5 Laws Everyone Working In Birth Defect Attorney Should Know
What Causes a Birth Defect?
It's the last thing that an expecting parent would like to hear: Their child may be born with a defect. These defects can be caused by the growing up and could affect the mental or physical health of your child.
A medical professional can detect birth defects during pregnancy using prenatal testing or newborn screening. However other birth defects might not be diagnosed until after your child is born or a few years later when they show symptoms.
What Caused Your Child's Defect?
The causes of numerous birth defects remains unclear. However there are a few things that increase the chance of having a baby with defects. One of them is taking drugs or certain medications prior to becoming pregnant, having a family history of birth defects or having medical conditions like rheumatic disease. Women who have an ancestry of these disorders should consult an expert in genetic counseling about their options prior to becoming pregnant.
The degree to which a birth defect causes serious issues or not is dependent on the body part that is affected and how much of the body part affected. Usually, the more severe the defect it, the more serious the problems will be.
Most birth defects are caused by genes or environment during fetal growth. The risk of having a birth defect can be reduced by gaining knowledge about your family's history with health issues and genes and speaking with a genetic counselor, and following prenatal guidelines.
Structural birth defects are those that change how a particular part of the body appears or performs. They can range from the visible like cleft lip and cleft palate, up to the invisibly, such as metabolic disorders or chromosome disorders. Genetic diseases that are passed down from generation to generation are a type of structural birth defect, while environmental factors, such as a lack of folic acid can cause neural tube defects, which can result in the spinal cord and brain not developing correctly.
Get More Evidence than You Think
There are many medical procedures a pregnant mother can undergo in order to determine the cause of a possible birth defect lawyers defect. One example is amniocentesis, which entails a doctor taking a small sample of the fetal fluid to be tested. This procedure could reveal chromosomal anomalies, as well other health conditions such as infections (such as Zika or rubella) or genetic anomalies.
A doctor can also test a fetus' blood, amniotic fluid and even the tissues of its umbilical cord for signs of birth defects. These tests are essential in determining the cause of birth defects. They can also determine the severity of a birth defect and its effects on a child's life.
Some birth defects might not be discovered until after the birth of a baby or, in a few instances, even as an adult. These issues aren't easily detected when they first appear and are sometimes only detected with equipment for diagnosing. In these cases, classicalmusicmp3freedownload.com it is critical that the medical expert witness is familiar with these technologies and has the correct training to be able to detect these flaws. An experienced medical malpractice lawyer can help you identify the most suitable expert for your case.
Employ a Medical Malpractice Lawyer
A child born with a severe defect or birth injury can alter the life of families. These injuries can lead to permanent physical and mental problems and require medical treatment for the rest of his life.
Medical science can pinpoint the root causes of around 30 percent of birth defects, many others remain a mystery. Research has revealed that certain chemicals and substances can cause birth defects, like those present in prescription or over the counter medicines that mothers are prescribed and the harmful chemicals that working in some communities and homes, as well as contaminated air and groundwater.
Doctors are required by law to analyze the medication used by an expectant mother and inform her of any possible dangers for the foetus. If they fail in their duty, they can be held liable for birth defects that are caused by medications.
Doctors must also evaluate the safety and efficacy of any procedure or device they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x-ray equipment, surgical tools, and any other equipment. If a doctor is negligent in using this equipment or fails to properly calibrate the equipment it could have serious consequences for the baby. This would be considered malpractice. If this occurs you should seek out a medical malpractice lawyer as soon as you can. In certain states, you have only one year to file a lawsuit for medical malpractice therefore it's best to begin the process as soon as you can.
Take the First Step
Birth defects are the main cause of infant death. They affect one in 33 babies every year. The condition could be life-threatening and result in a variety of long-term mental, emotional and physical problems. Scientists have, in some instances, linked the birth defects' causes to the mother's exposures to prescription and over-the-counter medications or environmental toxins, as well as complications of motherhood, infections, delivery and pregnancy or a family medical history or genetic illnesses (like sickle cell disease PKU, or other genetic illnesses). However, in the majority of birth defect cases the cause is unknown.
Some birth defects, like hearing loss or clubfoot, are easy to see and are easily diagnosed at birth or in the first year of a child's life. Others, such as heart problems or developmental and intellectual disabilities aren't as easily identified and require specialized tests.
Researchers are trying to figure out the root of birth defects, and how they can be avoided. For instance, women who smoke or drink alcohol or take illegal drugs during pregnancy increase the likelihood of having a child with a defect. Women with a history of family members with inherited genetic disorders should consult a genetic counselor prior to trying to become pregnant. They should also utilize the March of Dimes Family Health History form to collect data on medical conditions that run through their families. This information should be shared with their doctor or genetic counselor.