What s The Job Market For Birth Defect Attorney Professionals Like

What Causes a Birth Defect?

It's the last thing an expectant parent wants to hear: their child may have a birth defect. These problems are caused by factors that occur in the fetal period and can affect your child's physical or mental health.

Screening for newborns and prenatal tests can be used by a health professional to detect certain birth defects during pregnancy. Other birth defects could only be detected after the birth of your child or when symptoms are evident.

What was the cause of your child's error?

The root of many birth defects is not known. There are a few factors that could increase the likelihood of a woman having a child with a birth defect. One of them is taking drugs or certain medications prior to conception or having an ancestral history of birth defects or having medical conditions like rheumatic disease. Women with an established history of these diseases should speak with an expert on genetic counseling about their options prior to becoming pregnant.

The severity of a birth defect in a child depends on the body part affected and how much is affected. The more serious a birth defect is, the greater the severity of the issues.

Most birth defects are caused by genes or the environment during fetal growth. The chance of developing a birth defect can be decreased by educating yourself about your family's history with health issues and genes and speaking with a genetic counselor, and following the guidelines for prenatal care.

Structural defects are birth defects that affect the way the body appears or performs. They can range from the visible, such as cleft lip and cleft palate to the invisible, like metabolic disorders or chromosome disorder. Inherited genetic conditions are one type of structural birth defect while environmental factors, such as a lack of folic acid can cause neural tube defects, which can result in the spinal cord or brain not developing correctly.

Get More Evidence than You Think You Can.

There are many medical procedures that pregnant mothers can undergo in order to determine the cause of the possibility of birth defects. One example is amniocentesis, that involves a doctor taking a small amount of fetal fluid to test. This procedure could reveal chromosomal anomalies, as well other health issues like infections (such as Zika or rubella) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor may also examine the blood of a fetus or amniotic fluid as well as the tissues of its umbilical cord for signs of birth defects. These tests are essential to determining the cause of birth defects. They also help determine the extent of the birth defect and its impact on a child's future.

However, some birth defects can be unnoticed until the baby is born or, in rare instances, when an adult. These problems aren't visible before they are present and can be detected by using equipment for diagnosing. In these instances the medical expert witness must be knowledgeable with the latest technologies and possess the knowledge and experience required to be able to spot the defects. An experienced medical malpractice attorney can help you identify the appropriate specialist for your particular case.

Employ a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

A child born with a severe defect or a serious birth injury can alter the life of a family. These injuries can cause permanent physical and mental problems that require medical attention for the rest of his life.

Medical science can explain about 30 percent of birth defects, but many others remain unknown. Research has revealed that certain chemicals and substances such as those found in prescription or over-the-counter medications taken by a mother or children, harmful chemicals in the homes and communities, or contaminated groundwater and air may cause birth defects.

Doctors are required to assess the medication used by the mother-to-be and inform her of any possible dangers for the embryo. If they fail to perform this duty, they may be held responsible for birth defects that are caused by medications.

Doctors also have the responsibility to evaluate the safety of any procedure or device they recommend for pregnant women. This includes x-ray equipment, surgical tools, and other equipment. If a physician is negligent when using this equipment or fails to correctly calibrate the equipment, it could result in grave consequences for the baby. This would be considered medical malpractice. If this happens it's crucial to speak with a medical malpractice attorney as soon as you can. In certain states, you have only one year to file a complaint for medical malpractice, so it's best to begin the process as soon as you can.

Step 1. Step

Birth defects affect one out of 33 babies born each year and are the most common cause of infant mortality. The conditions could be life-threatening and cause a myriad of cognitive, emotional, and physical problems. In some instances, scientists have identified the causes as a mother's exposure to prescription or over-the-counter drugs, toxins in the environment and maternal infections, the complications associated with pregnancy and birth or medical history of the family (like genetic illnesses like sickle cell diseases or PKU). However, in a majority of birth defect cases the cause is unknown.

Certain birth defects, like hearing loss or clubfoot, are easy to spot and are easily diagnosed at birth or in the first year of a child's life. Certain birth defects, like heart defects or intellectual and birth developmental disabilities, require special tests to identify.

Researchers are trying to discover the cause of birth defects and how they can be prevented. For example, women who smoke or drink alcohol or take illegal drugs during pregnancy increase their chances of having a child with certain birth defects. Women with a family history of inherited genetic disorders should consider seeing a genetic counselor before trying to get pregnant. They could also use the March of Dimes Family Health Form to collect information on medical conditions that run through their families. This information should be shared with their doctor or genetic counselor.