The Most Pervasive Issues With Birth Defect Attorney

What Causes a Birth Defect?

It's not something that any expectant parent wants to hear: their child may be born with a defect. These issues may be caused by a variety of things that happen during fetal growth and can affect the mental or physical health of your child.

Prenatal screening and newborn screening can be utilized by a health professional to diagnose certain birth defects that can occur during pregnancy. Other birth defects could only be detected following the birth of your child or if symptoms are evident.

What caused your child's deformity?

Many birth defects are still undiscovered. There are several factors that could increase the likelihood of pregnant women having children with birth 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, for instance rheumatic heart disease. Women who have a family history of these diseases are advised to consult an expert on genetics prior to getting pregnant.

The extent to which a birth defect in a child causes serious problems or not depends on the body part that is affected and how much of the body part is affected. The more severe the defect and the more serious the problem will be.

Most birth defect attorney defects are caused either by genes or the environment during fetal development. The risk of having a birth defect can be reduced by gaining knowledge about your family's history of health issues and genes by speaking to an expert in genetic counseling and following prenatal guidelines.

Structural birth defects are those that change how a part of the body appears or works. They can range from the visible like cleft lip and cleft palate, but also the invisible, such as metabolic disorders or chromosome disorder. Genetically-inherited conditions can be a type of birth defects that cause structural changes. Environmental factors, such as the absence of folic acid can cause neural tube defects, which result in brain or spinal cord development not functioning properly.

Find More Evidence than You Think

There are a variety of medical procedures that pregnant women undergo to find out more about the possibility of a birth defect. Amniocentesis is one of them, which involves a medical professional taking a small sample of the fetal fluid to be tested. This test may reveal chromosomal irregularities, as well other health conditions such as infections (such as Zika or rubella) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor can test the blood, amniotic liquid and tissues of a fetus for indications of a birth defect. These tests are essential in diagnosing the root of a birth defect. They can also assist in determining the severity of the birth defect could be and the effect it may affect a child later in the years to come.

However certain birth defects may be unnoticed until the baby is born, or in rare cases, as an adult. These conditions are not detectable when they first appear and are sometimes only detected by using equipment for diagnosing. In these instances the medical expert witness must be conversant with the technology and have the necessary training to be able identify these issues. A medical malpractice lawyer with years of experience will be able to determine the most appropriate specialist for your case.

Employ a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

A child born with a serious defect or birth injury could completely alter the life of families. These injuries can create life-long physical and emotional challenges, often requiring the need for a lifetime of medical treatment.

Medical science could explain up to 30 percent of birth defects however, many other cases remain unknown. Studies have shown that certain chemicals and substances can cause birth defects, including those that are found in prescription or over-the counter medicines that mothers are prescribed and the harmful chemicals that work in some communities and homes, or contaminated groundwater and air.

Doctors are required to assess an expectant mother's current medications and advise her about any dangers to the baby. If they fail to meet this duty, they may be held responsible for Birth defect law firms defects that are caused by medication.

Doctors also have the responsibility to evaluate the safety of any procedure or equipment they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x ray equipment, surgical instruments and other equipment. This could cause serious harm for a child should a doctor use the equipment improperly or does not calibrate it properly. This would be considered malpractice. When this happens it is important to contact a medical negligence attorney as quickly as you can. In some states, you only have one year to file a medical malpractice case, so the earlier you begin the process, the better.

Begin by completing the first Step

Birth defects are the leading cause of infant deaths. They affect one in 33 babies every year. These conditions can be life-threatening and can trigger long-term physical, mental and emotional challenges. Scientists have, in some instances, connected the birth defects' causes due to exposure of the mother to prescription and over-the-counter medications as well as environmental toxins, birth defect law Firms maternal infections, complications during the birth and pregnancy, family medical history, or genetic illnesses (like sickle cell disease PKU, also known as genetic diseases). However, in a majority of birth defect cases the cause is not known.

Certain birth defects, like hearing loss or clubfoot are easy to detect and can be identified at birth or in the first year of a child's life. Certain birth defects, like heart defects or developmental and intellectual disabilities, require specific tests to be identified.

Researchers are trying determine the root of birth defects, and how they can be prevented. For instance women who smoke and drink alcohol or consume illegal drugs during pregnancy increase the chances of having a child with certain defects. Women with a family history of inherited genetic disorders should seek out a genetic counselor before trying to get pregnant. They should also use the March of Dimes family health history form to gather information about medical conditions that run in their families and share it with their doctor or a genetic counselor.