Why Nobody Cares About Birth Defect Litigation

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with a birth defect it could have a devastating impact on you and your family. Medical bills, therapy costs and other losses can quickly increase.

A Hyattsville birth defect lawyer could help you file claim for reimbursement for the costs of caring for your child with disabilities. Legal claims for birth defects are a bit nebulous, so it is important to seek legal advice as soon as you can.

Medical Malpractice

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

A doctor could also be responsible for a birth injury when they fail to recognize or respond adequately to distress of the fetus. This can cause a number of serious complications, including hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and brain injuries like cerebral palsy.

The distinction between a birth defect and a birth injury is that defects are part of a person's genetic make-up, while injuries are caused by an event that occurs during pregnancy, labor, or birth. The most common injuries are Erb's Palsy which occurs when the nerves that control the infant's arms and legs are stretched or torn. Another injury is the caput succedaneum, an inflammation of the scalp. Both can lead to a permanent disability and ongoing treatment will cost a great deal of money. A Washington, DC lawyer who is specialized in birth defects will provide a free consultation to review your case, and decide on the best course for you and your baby.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect attorney may be able help parents determine the root of an infant's birth injury. Many birth defects are caused by birth defects or genetics. However, certain medications can also cause birth defects. Many commonly used medications can have negative effects on fetuses. This is especially applicable in the early months of pregnancy. Anti-nausea medications, NSAIDs and chemotherapy drugs are among the most frequently used. These drugs have been linked to an increased chance of limb deformities, heart defects, brain deformities and craniosynostois.

It is the duty of a doctor to be aware of the potential risks when prescribing medications for women who are pregnant. If doctors do not follow this standard of care, they may be held liable for malpractice. Pharma companies could also be held accountable for not properly informing mothers of the risks associated with their medications. Zofran is a medication used to treat nausea in cancer patients, was found to increase the risk of major defects during the first trimester pregnancies.

A birth defect lawyer can help a family receive compensation for the future and present medical expenses related to the injury or disability, as well as loss of earnings and quality of life. This could include doctor's, hospital or pharmaceutical costs, in addition to assistive devices and therapies.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer can file a lawsuit on behalf of families of children who have congenital disabilities as a result of the negligence of businesses who expose pregnant women to chemicals and other drugs that cause birth deformities. They are trained to identify the cause of birth defects so they can bring a case against companies that expose pregnant women to teratogens either at work or in their home.

Some of the chemical exposures that can lead to birth defects include metals, fungicides, herbicides and other pesticides. These chemicals are referred to as Teratogens since they interfere with the development of the fetus by making chemical changes that inhibit normal cell function, or can cause organs that are malformed. These chemicals can be used in a variety of locations, such as the manufacturing of semiconductors and cleaning of metals.

Other harmful chemicals that could cause birth defects are aliphatic chlorinated hydrocarbons, such as perchloroethylene, trichloroethylene and dichloroethane. These chemicals have been proven to cause birth defects in the heart in babies born to mothers who were exposed during their time in the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits against various companies that were involved in exposing the families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune to these harmful chemicals. Some of these birth defect lawyers have secured substantial settlements on behalf of families whose children were born with severe defects because of exposure to toxic chemicals at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Some birth defects could be caused by a combination between medical negligence and environmental factors. If a family suspects that their child's birth defect may be a result of medical negligence, prescription drug abuse or exposure to toxic chemicals, they should talk to a DC birth injury lawyer to discuss the situation.

If pregnant women consume or absorb contaminants from the surrounding environment they could develop serious birth defects. These chemicals are referred to as teratogens. Over 4 million chemicals are present in our air, food and water Some of them are harmful if they come into contact with pregnant women.

For instance, arsenic found in drinking water as well as cadmium derived from contaminated coal can cause a variety of birth defects, as well as other health issues. Industrial solvents such as benzene, toluene and trichloroethylene (a metal degreaser) are also linked to certain birth defects. Glycol-ethers can increase the risk of birth defects among women. These chemicals are used in the production of semiconductors display devices, silicon chip displays and video displays.

LK's experienced birth defect attorneys have brought numerous lawsuits on behalf of children who suffer from a wide range of birth defects as a result of the wrongful exposure to chemicals and toxic substances at workplaces or in their homes. These lawsuits involve complex scientific analyses and expert witnesses such as toxicologists and epidemiologists.