Five Killer Quora Answers On Birth Defect Attorneys

Why It Is Important to Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

Being aware that your child has a birth defect can turn what should have been an exciting time into an uneasy and uncertain experience. It is crucial to contact an attorney for medical malpractice and birth defect lawyer immediately.

You will need to gather bills and receipts, credit card payments and other evidence of your losses to be able to claim full reimbursement for your losses. We have successfully represented family members in claims 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 severe than others, but all birth injuries or defects can be devastating for the child and their family members. A medical malpractice attorney will help determine if the doctor made an error that caused the defect or injury.

Certain birth defects are easily detected through screening tests performed by doctors during pregnancy. These tests can be done and interpret correctly to inform parents about the possibility that their child could be born with a birth defect. This information will enable them to decide to terminate the pregnancy, or at least prepare for the child's birth and treatment. If the doctor fails to perform or interpret these tests, or if they fail to notify the parents of the results, this could be deemed medical malpractice.

Medical treatments for birth defects can be costly. They may require procedures, specialists, medications for speech and physical therapy, as well as assistive devices. A lawsuit based on wrongful birth can help alleviate the cost of these expenses. This will allow families to provide the care their child needs. Medical malpractice lawsuits are often complex and time-sensitive. Therefore, it's important to hire an experienced attorney as soon as you can.

Prescription Drugs

Despite recent advances in medicine and the latest technology birth defects and injuries are still possible. Birth defects of a mild or severe nature and injuries are often lifelong medical attention. In some cases they can even lead to death. A Boston dangerous drug lawyer can help parents recover compensation for their child's present and future medical costs, including hospital procedures, doctor's visits rehabilitation services, assistive devices, and many more.

If a physician prescribes medication to an expectant mother that increases the chances of her child having a birth defect, they could be guilty for medical malpractice. They have a duty to know what medications can affect the development of the fetus and to not prescribe drugs that could be harmful to the fetus.

Prescription medicines that increase the risk of a birth defect are referred to as teratogens. They include anti-seizure drugs such as Dilantin and Tegretol. The FDA has issued warnings regarding the use of these medicines in pregnancy. They could increase the risk of cleft lips and cleft palates, as well as heart, lung and brain abnormalities. They can also cause miscarriage for women who are pregnant, or nursing. Parents may sue doctors, the manufacturers of the medications and the pharmacists who gave the medications for failing to warn them about their risks.

Toxic Chemicals

When a baby is born with a birth defect, parents often ask themselves what caused it. Birth defects can be caused by a variety of factors, such as adverse effects from medications as well as exposure to toxic chemicals during pregnancy.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 1 in 33 babies are born with a birth deformity. These birth defects could be minor or serious or Birth defect even life-threatening. In the majority of cases birth defects are an unfortunate genetic anomaly that happens due to no fault of the mother. However, a substantial portion of birth defects are the result of exposure to chemicals or environmental factors that takes place during the womb. These chemicals are referred as teratogens. They increase the risk of structural or functional abnormalities which are not reversible in offspring.

Many Americans are exposed to industrial chemicals each day. The list of potentially harmful chemicals is extensive, ranging from semiconductor and technology factories with clean rooms, to pesticides that are used on farms and nurseries and automobile, paint, plastics and paint manufacturing facilities.

Most times, companies that manufacture these chemicals do not properly test them for their potential adverse effects on humans, and it's not unusual to see them fail to include adequate warnings in their products or services. The birth defect lawyers at LK can help families fight against large corporations that put profit over the safety and health of their employees and children.

Environmental Exposure

Being a parent of a child who has an anomaly in the birth process is extremely difficult for parents, as it will require medical treatment throughout their infant's lifetime. The severity of the condition, certain birth defects can cause life-long physical and mental disabilities for the infant.

While certain birth defect attorney defects are unavoidable due to genetics, many others can be triggered through exposure to chemicals or environmental factors during pregnancy. These can include prescription drugs or toxic chemicals that may be consumed by the mother or from chemical substances that have contaminated the air or groundwater in the community.

Birth defect lawsuits are not only limited to medical malpractice. They may also be filed against individuals or companies who are responsible for the injury of the child. For instance, if a physician prescribes a medication that increases the chances of your child's birth defect, they may be held liable.

It's also the case for individuals or businesses who expose their employees to harmful chemicals and other substances. Many studies have shown that exposure to pesticides, fungicides, lead, metals and paints could increase the chances of having a child with certain types of birth defects. In order to tackle this issue, lawsuits were filed against beauty salons and cleaning operations, as well semiconductor manufacturing facilities and painting factories. Web-based Integrated Birth Defects 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.