5 Killer Quora Answers On Birth Defect Attorneys

Why It Is Important to Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

Finding out that your child has a birth defect can turn what should have been an exciting time into a stressful and uncertain one. It is important to contact an experienced medical malpractice and birth defect lawyer right away.

You'll need to collect bills and receipts, credit card payments and other evidence of your losses to receive the full amount of compensation for your losses. We have successfully represented family members in lawsuits against large electronics companies, producers of agricultural pesticides and commercial growers.

Medical Malpractice

Many birth defects are caused by mistakes in medicine or malpractice that occurred during pregnancy. Certain of these problems are more serious than others however, they can be all devastating for the child and loved ones. A medical malpractice lawyer can help determine if the doctor committed an error that led to the injury or defect.

Doctors can identify some birth defects through screening tests during pregnancy. These tests can be performed and correctly to inform parents of the possibility that their child could have a birth deformity. This information allows them to decide whether to terminate the pregnancy or prepare for the birth and treatment of the child. If the doctor does not carry out or interpret these tests, or if they fail to inform parents of the results, it could be deemed medical negligence.

Treatments for birth defects are typically expensive. The treatments may include surgeries, specialists, medication, physical and speech therapies and assistive equipment. A lawsuit for wrongful birth could assist in easing the financial burden of these costs. This will enable families to provide the support their child needs. Medical malpractice lawsuits can be complex and time-sensitive. Therefore, it's important to hire an experienced attorney as soon as you can.

Prescription Drugs

While modern technology and recent advances in the field of medicine have drastically reduced the risk of birth defects and injuries however, they're still a possibility. Birth injuries and birth defects can be mild or severe and require ongoing medical attention. In some instances, they even cause death. A Boston lawyer for dangerous drugs can assist parents in obtaining compensation to cover their child's medical expenses now and future, including hospitalizations, doctor's appointments rehabilitation services, assistive equipment and much more.

If a doctor prescribes medication to an expecting mother that increases the chance of her child's developing a birth defect they could be guilty for medical malpractice. They have a duty to be aware of the medications that could adversely affect the growth of a fetus and not recommend harmful substances to the baby's fetus.

Prescription medicines that increase the risk of a birth defect are known as teratogens. They include anti-seizure medication like Dilantin, Lamictal, Tegretol and Topamax. The FDA has issued warnings regarding the use of these drugs during pregnancy. They may increase the risk of cleft lips and cleft palates, as well as the brain, lung and heart abnormalities. These medications also pose a chance of miscarriage in women who are pregnant or nursing. Parents may sue doctors, drug makers and pharmacists for failing to warn about the risks.

Toxic Chemicals

Parents often ask the reason their child was born with a birth defect. However, a number of different factors can lead to a birth defect, from medication side effects to exposure to toxic chemicals in the uterus.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), birth defect 1 out of 33 babies are born with a birth defect. These issues can range from minor to serious and can even be life-threatening. Most of the time, a birth defect is the result of faulty genetics. Birth defects are often caused by environmental or chemical exposure during the womb. These chemicals are called Teratogens and increase the risk of structural or functional abnormalities that are not reverseable in offspring.

Many Americans are exposed to industrial chemicals every day. The list of chemical hazards that may be harmful is long, covering semiconductor and technology factories equipped with clean rooms, to pesticides used in nurseries and farms, and plastics, paint, automobiles, and paint manufacturing facilities.

Most times, companies that manufacture these chemicals don't adequately test them for their possible effects on humans and it's not unusual for them to not include adequate warnings on their products or services. The lawyers from LK's birth defects can help families fight against large corporations who put profits ahead of the health and safety of their workers and children.

Environmental Exposure

Having a child with an anomaly in the birth process can be incredibly distressing for parents as it will require medical treatment throughout the life of their child. Based on the severity of the problem, certain birth defects can cause life-long physical and mental impairments for the baby.

Some birth defects can't be prevented due to genetics. However, environmental or chemical exposure can cause many others. These can include prescription drugs or toxic chemicals that may be consumed by the mother or from chemical substances that have caused contamination of the groundwater or air in a community.

Birth defect lawsuits are not only restricted to medical negligence. They can also be brought against businesses or individuals who are accountable for the harm of the child. For instance, if a doctor prescribes a medicine that can increase the chance of the birth defect of your child the doctor could be found to be responsible.

The same goes for those or companies that expose employees to hazardous chemicals and other substances. Many studies have shown that exposure to pesticides, fungicides in combination with lead, metals, and paints can increase the chance of having a child with certain birth defects. In this regard, lawsuits have been filed against beauty salons, metal cleaning operations, semiconductor manufacturing facilities, and paint factories due to their role in the development of serious birth defects in children. Web-based integrated birth defect surveillance in New York State. Wang, Y., Tao, Z., Steen, P.M., Cross, P.K., Druschel, C.M. Hwang, S.-A. Journal of Public Health Management & Practice. 14(6): E1-E10. 2008.