What The Heck Is Birth Defect Attorney?

What Causes a Birth Defect?

The last thing a new parent wants to learn is that their child could have a birth deformity. These birth defects are caused by things that occur during the development of the fetus and can affect your child's physical or mental health.

A doctor is able to detect some birth defects during pregnancy with prenatal tests or newborn screening. However, other birth defects may not be detected until after your child is born or later when they develop symptoms.

What was the cause of your child's error?

The root of many birth defects remains unknown. However there are a few things that increase the risk of having a child with a defect. These include taking prescription drugs or taking certain medications prior to pregnancy, having a family member who has birth defects or certain medical conditions like rheumatic heart disease. Women with an history of these conditions should talk to a genetic counselor about their options before getting pregnant.

Whether a child's birth defect can cause serious health issues or not is dependent on which body part is affected and how much of the body part affected. The more serious a birth defect is, the greater the severity of the issues.

Most birth defects are caused by genetics or the environment during the fetal development. The risk of having birth defects is reduced by knowing about your family's history with health issues and genes by speaking to a genetic counselor and following the guidelines for prenatal care.

Structural birth imperfections are those that alter the way a part of your body appears or functions. They may be visible such as cleft lips and cleft palettes. They can also be invisible, like chromosome conditions or metabolic disorders. Inherited genetic conditions can result in structural birth defects. Environmental factors, like an absence of folic acid can cause neural tube defects that lead to the development of the spinal or brain not functioning as it should.

Get More Evidence than You Think

There are many medical procedures pregnant mothers may undergo to learn more about the possibility of birth defects. Amniocentesis is one example, where a doctor collects tiny amounts of fluid from the fetus for examination. This procedure could reveal chromosomal anomalies and other health conditions such as infections (such as Zika or rubella) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor may also test a fetus' blood or amniotic fluid as well as the umbilical cord for indications of birth defect attorney defects. These tests are essential in diagnosing the root of birth defects. They also help determine the severity of a birth defect and the impact it has on a child's future.

However, some birth defects can go undetected until a baby is born, or in rare instances, when an adult. These conditions are not detectable before they are present and are usually only detected by using equipment for diagnosing. In these cases the medical expert witness must be conversant with the techniques and the knowledge and experience required to identify these defects. A medical malpractice lawyer with experience should be able to identify the right specialist for your case.

Hire a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

If a child is born with a serious birth defect or suffers a devastating birth injury, it could completely turn the world of a family upside down. These injuries can cause lifelong physical and mental challenges and require medical treatment for the rest of his life.

Although medical science has been able to identify the underlying causes behind about 30% of birth defects, others remain a mystery. Studies have shown that certain chemicals and substances may cause birth defects, for example those present in prescription or over the counter medicines that mothers are prescribed as well as the toxic chemicals that working in some communities and homes, or contaminated air and groundwater.

Doctors are required to assess the medications taken by an expectant mother and inform her of any potential dangers for the foetus. If they fail to fulfill this duty, they may be held responsible for birth defects caused by medication.

Doctors also have the responsibility to assess the safety of any procedure or device they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x-ray machines, surgical tools, and other equipment. This could result in serious consequences for a baby in the event that a physician uses the equipment in a negligent manner or does not calibrate it correctly. This would be considered to be malpractice. If this occurs it's crucial to seek out a medical malpractice attorney as quickly as you can. In some states, you only have a single year to file a medical negligence case, so the sooner you start the process the better.

Begin by completing the first Step

Birth defects affect 1 in 33 babies born each year and are a major reason for infant death. The condition can be life-threatening and cause a myriad of cognitive, emotional, and physical challenges. Scientists have in some cases linked the causes of birth defects to the mother's exposures to prescription and over-the-counter drugs, environmental toxins, maternal infections, complications during pregnancy and delivery or a family medical history or genetic diseases (like sickle cell disease PKU, sickle cell disease, or other genetic illnesses). But in about 70% of birth defects cases the cause is unknown.

Some birth defect lawyer defects, like hearing loss or clubfoot, are easily identifiable and can be diagnosed from birth or within the first year of a child's existence. Other birth defects, such as heart defects or intellectual and developmental disabilities, aren't as easily identifiable and require specialized tests.

Researchers are trying to figure out the causes of birth defects and how some of these can be avoided. For example women who smoke or drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs during pregnancy increase their chance of having a baby with certain birth defects. Women with an inherited family history of genetic disorders should consult a genetic counselor before trying to get pregnant. They should also utilize the March of Dimes Family Health History form to collect information on medical conditions that run through their families. This information should be shared with their doctor or genetic counselor.