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 effect on you and your family. Medical bills, therapy costs and other expenses can quickly accumulate.

A Hyattsville birth defect law firm defect lawyer could help you file an action to collect reimbursement for the costs of caring for your child with disabilities. Legal claims for birth defects can be a little tangled, so it is important to seek legal advice as soon as you can.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals are required to adhere to a certain standard when treating pregnant women or their infants. If a doctor's actions are not in line with this standard and cause an injury or birth defect and/or death, they may be held responsible for birth defect attorney injuries suffered by their patient. A DC lawyer who has experience in birth defects lawsuits can assist you in determining whether your child's condition was caused by a medical error during pregnancy or delivery.

A doctor may also be accountable for an injury to the fetus if they fail to recognize or respond adequately to distress in the fetus. This could lead to various serious problems, including hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy 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 makeup however, injuries are caused due to something happening during pregnancy, labor, or birth. These injuries can be caused by issues like Erb's syndrome which is caused when the nerves that energize and control the arms of an infant are stretched or torn during birth and caput succedaneum, an increase in the size of the scalp. Both of them can cause permanent disability, and ongoing treatment will cost lots of money. A Washington, DC lawyer who is specialized in birth defects will provide a free consultation to look over your case and determine the best course of action for you and your baby.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect attorney may be able to help parents determine the reason behind a child's birth defect. Many birth defects result from genetics or factors during pregnancy. However, medications can also cause birth defects. Many common medications can have negative effects on fetuses. This is especially relevant in the first three months of pregnancy. These include anti-nausea medications such as NSAIDs, chemotherapy medicines, certain antibiotics, and many more. These drugs have been found to increase the risk of limb and brain deformities, birth defect attorney heart defects and craniosynostosis.

It is the responsibility of a doctor to be aware of these risks when prescribing medicines for women who are pregnant. If doctors do not follow this standard of care, then they could be held accountable for malpractice. Pharmaceutical companies could be held liable as well for not adequately warning mothers of the dangers that come with their drugs. Zofran is a medication used to treat nausea in cancer patients, was found to increase the risk of major defects during the first trimester pregnancy.

A birth defect attorney can assist families in getting compensation for medical expenses, income loss and quality of living. This can include hospital, doctor's, pharmaceutical, and other costs, in addition to assistive devices and treatments.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer can bring a lawsuit on behalf of the families of children suffering from congenital disabilities that result from the negligence of companies which expose pregnant women to chemicals or drugs that cause birth defects. They are trained to identify the reason for the birth defect, so they can sue companies who expose mothers to teratogens during the time they are working or in their home.

Some of the chemical exposures that lead to birth defect lawsuits defects are herbicides, fungicides, metals and other pesticides. These chemicals are called Teratogens since they affect the development of a healthy foetus by causing chemical changes that cause abnormal organs or block normal cell function. These chemicals can be used in a variety of locations, such as metal cleaning and semiconductor manufacturing.

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

Parents have filed lawsuits to expose companies to liability for the families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, to harmful chemicals. Some of the birth defect lawyers have won substantial settlements on behalf of families whose children were born with severe birth defects because of exposure to toxic chemicals at 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 defect of their child may result from medical negligence, prescription drug abuse or exposure to harmful chemicals, they should contact a DC birth injury lawyer to discuss the situation.

Chemicals and other substances in the environment can cause birth defects of a serious nature when they are consumed or absorbed by pregnant women. These substances are referred to as teratogens. More than 4 million chemicals can be found in our food, air and water. Some of these chemicals could be harmful to pregnant women.

Arsenic found in drinking water or cadmium in contaminated coal, for example, can cause birth defects and other health problems. Industrial solvents such as benzene toluene and trichloroethylene (a metal degreaser) are also associated with certain birth defects. Glycol-ethers can increase the likelihood of birth defects occurring in women. These chemicals are used for the manufacture of semiconductors display devices, silicon chip displays and video displays.

LK's experienced birth defect attorneys have brought many lawsuits on behalf of children who have suffered from a variety of birth defects due to wrongful toxic and chemical exposure at work or in their homes. These lawsuits typically involve complicated scientific analysis and expert witnesses, such as toxicologists, epidemiologists, geneticists, occupational medicine experts, and embryologists.