Beware Of This Common Mistake With Your Birth Defect Litigation

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child is born with a birth deformity this can cause a lot of grief for the entire family. The cost of therapy, medical bills and other losses can quickly mount up.

A Hyattsville lawyer with a specialization in birth defects may be able to help to file a claim for reimbursement for the expenses of caring for your children with disabilities. Legal claims for birth defects are complex and it is essential to seek legal advice whenever you can.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must adhere to a standard of care when treating pregnant women or their babies. If a doctor's actions are not in line with this standard and result in an injury or birth defect or injury, they could be held accountable for harms suffered by their patient. A DC lawyer who has experience in birth defects lawsuits can help determine whether your child's condition was caused by a medical mistake during pregnancy or during delivery.

A doctor could also be the cause of a birth injury when they fail to identify or respond adequately to distress of the fetus. This can cause a number of serious problems, including hypoxic ischemic disorder (HIE) and brain injuries such as cerebral palsy.

The difference between a birth defect and a birth injury is that defects are part of a person's genetic makeup and injuries are triggered by something occurring during labor, pregnancy, or the birth. The most common injuries are Erb's Palsy which occurs when the nerves that control the infant's limbs and arms are stretched or torn. Another injury is caput succedaneum - an increase in the size of the scalp. Both of these conditions can lead to lifelong disability and require ongoing treatment, resulting in large medical bills. A Washington, DC lawyer who specializes in birth defects can offer a free consultation in order to examine your case and determine the best course of action for you and your baby.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer might be able to assist parents identify the cause of a child's birth injury, or defect. While many birth defects are the result of genetics and the factors that influence the mother's pregnancy however, they can also be caused because of medications. Many common medications have a significant impact on fetuses, particularly in the first trimester of pregnancy. Anti-nausea medication, NSAIDs and chemotherapy drugs are among the most frequently used. These medications have been linked to an increase in risk of deformities in the limbs and brain defects, heart defects and craniosynostosis.

A doctor's duty is to take into account these risks when prescribing medication for women who are pregnant. When doctors fail to meet this standard of care, they could be liable for medical malpractice. Pharmaceutical companies could be held liable as well for not adequately warning mothers about the risks associated with their medicines. For instance, Zofran, a medication used to treat nausea in cancer patients, has been found to significantly increase the risk of major congenital problems in first trimester pregnancies.

A birth defect lawyer can assist families receive reimbursement for future and ongoing medical expenses resulting from the disability or injury in addition to loss of income and quality of life. This could include hospital fees physician's fees, pharmaceutical costs, and other expenses, as well as assistive devices and therapy.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer can bring a lawsuit on behalf of families of children with congenital disabilities that result from the negligence of businesses that expose pregnant women chemicals or drugs that cause birth defects. They are trained to identify what caused the birth defect, so they can bring a lawsuit against companies who expose mothers to teratogens as they work or at their home.

Metals, fungicides and herbicides as well as pesticides are among the chemicals that can cause birth defects. These chemicals are called teratogens due to their impact on the healthy development of the fetus by causing chemical changes that prevent normal cell function or lead to organs that are not properly formed. These chemicals can be found in many different settings, including the manufacturing of semiconductors, metal cleaning and paint production.

Other chemicals that may cause birth defects are hydrocarbons with aliphatic properties, like dichloroethane or trichloroethylene perchloroethylene. These chemicals are known to cause cardiac birth defects in babies born to mothers exposed while they were in the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits against a variety of companies who were responsible for exposing the families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune to these harmful chemicals. Some of these birth defect lawyers have obtained substantial settlements on behalf families who had their children born with severe defects as a result of the toxic chemical exposures at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Some birth defects can be caused by the combination of medical negligence and environmental conditions or chemicals. If a family is concerned that the birth defect in their child could be a result of medical malpractice, prescription drug overdose or exposure to harmful chemicals, they should speak with an DC birth injury lawyer to discuss the situation.

Chemicals and other pollutants in the environment can cause serious birth defects if they are ingested or absorbed by pregnant women. These substances are known as teratogens. More than 4 million chemicals exist in our air, food and water Some of them can be harmful when they come into contact with a woman who is pregnant.

For instance, arsenic from drinking water and birth defect attorneys cadmium from contaminated coal can cause various birth defects and health problems. Certain birth defects are also linked to industrial solvents like benzene (a metal degreaser) as well as toluene (a solvent for plastics) and trichloroethylene. Glycol-ethers are also known for their ability to increase the likelihood of birth defects occurring in women. These chemicals are used to manufacture semiconductors display panels, silicon chip displays, and video displays.

LK's experienced birth defect attorneys have brought many lawsuits on behalf of children suffering from a range of birth defects as a result of unintentional exposure to toxic chemicals and chemicals at workplaces or in their homes. These lawsuits usually involve a complex scientific analysis and expert witnesses, including toxicologists as well as epidemiologists, geneticists occupational medicine experts, and embryologists.