20 Myths About Birth Defect Litigation: Busted

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with a birth deformity this can be devastating for the entire family. Medical bills, therapy costs and other expenses can quickly add up.

A Hyattsville lawyer that specializes in birth defects may be able to help to file a claim for compensation for the cost of caring for your children with disabilities. A legal claim for birth defects could be complex, so you should consult with a legal professional as soon as you can.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must adhere to a set of guidelines when treating pregnant women and their infants. A doctor could be held responsible for damages if their actions result in birth defects or injuries. A DC lawyer who has experience in birth defect lawsuits can assist you in determining whether your child's condition may have been caused by an error in medical care during pregnancy or during delivery.

A doctor can also be held accountable for birth injuries if they fail diagnose fetal distress or are unable to respond in a timely manner. This can cause many serious problems like hypoxic-ischemic brain injury and hypoxic encephalopathy such as cerebral palsy.

Birth injuries differ from birth defects because they are caused by events during pregnancy, delivery or labor. These injuries can be caused by ailments like Erb's palsy, which occurs when the nerves that power and control the arms of an infant are stretched or damaged during birth, and caput succedaneum, an increase in the size of the scalp. Both of these can lead to lifelong disability and require ongoing treatment, resulting in hefty medical costs. A Washington, DC birth defect lawyer can provide a free initial consultation to review your situation and determine the best option for you and your child.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect law firms defect lawyer may help parents determine the root cause of an infant's birth injury. Many birth defects are caused by the genetics of the baby or other factors during pregnancy. However, medications can also cause birth defects. Many common medications have a profound effect on fetuses and babies, particularly during the first trimester of pregnancy. Anti-nausea medications, NSAIDs and chemotherapy medications are among the most frequently used. These medications have been linked to a higher chance of limb deformities, heart defects, brain deformities and craniosynostosis.

The duty of a doctor is to be aware of these risks when prescribing medication for pregnant women. If doctors fail to adhere to the requirements of this standard of care, they could be held liable for medical negligence. Pharma companies may also be held accountable for not adequately informing mothers about the risks associated with their medications. Zofran, which is used to treat nausea in cancer patients, was found to increase the risk of major defects occurring in first-trimester pregnancy.

A birth defect lawyer can assist a family in obtaining compensation for medical expenses, loss of income and quality of living. This could include hospital costs, doctor's fees, pharmaceutical costs and other costs, as well assistive devices and therapy.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer could bring a lawsuit on behalf of families of children who have congenital disabilities because due to the negligence of corporations that expose pregnant women to chemicals and drugs that can cause birth deformities. They are trained to identify the reason for the birth defect law firm defect to bring a lawsuit against the companies that expose mothers to teratogens while they work or in their home.

Some of the exposures to chemicals that lead to birth defects include the use of fungicides and metals as well as herbicides and other pesticides. These chemicals are called Teratogens since they affect the healthy development a fetus through chemical changes that lead to abnormal organs or prevent normal cell function. These chemicals are present in diverse settings like manufacturing of semiconductors, metal cleaning and paint production.

Other chemicals that can cause birth defects are hydrocarbons with aliphatic properties, like dichloroethane or trichloroethylene perchloroethylene. These chemicals have been proven to cause birth defects in the heart in babies born to mothers exposed in the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits against various companies who were responsible for the exposure of families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune to these harmful chemicals. Some of these birth defect lawyers have won substantial settlements for families whose children were born with severe birth defects due to the exposure to toxic chemicals on the base.

Environmental Exposure

Certain birth defects may be caused by a combination of medical negligence and environmental factors. If a family suspects that the birth defects of a baby could be due to medical negligence or prescription drug overdose or exposure to harmful chemical, they should consult an DC birth injury lawyer to discuss their case.

Chemicals and other pollutants in the environment can cause serious birth defects when they are consumed or taken in by pregnant women. Teratogens are the names given to these substances. More than 4 million chemicals are present in our food, air and water and some can be harmful if they come into contact with pregnant women.

For instance, arsenic found in drinking water and cadmium in contaminated coal can cause various birth defects, as well as other health issues. Certain birth defects are also related to industrial solvents, such as benzene (a metal degreaser) and toluene (a solvent for plastics) and trichloroethylene. Glycol-ethers can increase the chance of birth defects in 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 filed numerous lawsuits on behalf of children who suffered from a range of birth defects due to improper exposure to chemicals and toxic substances at workplaces or in their homes. These lawsuits require complex scientific analyses and expert witnesses such as toxicologists and epidemiologists.