7 Simple Tips To Totally Refreshing Your 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. The cost of therapy, medical bills and other losses can quickly become a burden.
A Hyattsville lawyer who is specialized in birth defects could help to file a claim for compensation for the costs of taking care of your disabled children. A legal claim for birth defects can be complex, so you should consult a lawyer immediately.
Medical Malpractice
Medical professionals must adhere to an appropriate standard of care when treating pregnant women and their babies. A doctor could be held responsible for damages if their actions result in birth defects or injuries. A DC lawyer with experience in lawsuits involving birth defects can help you determine if your child's health condition may be due to an error in medical care during pregnancy or delivery.
A doctor birth defect Attorney could also be held responsible for birth injuries if they fail detect fetal distress or don't respond appropriately. This can result in many serious problems like hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and brain injuries like cerebral palsy.
The difference between birth defect lawsuits defects and birth injury is that defects are part of a person's genetic make-up however, injuries are caused by something occurring during pregnancy, labor, or during delivery. Injuries can include conditions like Erb's Palsy that occurs when the nerves that power and control the arms of a newborn are stretched or ruptured during birth as well as caput succedaneum which is an increase in the size of the scalp. Both of them can lead to lifelong disability and require ongoing treatment, which can result in large medical bills. A Washington, DC lawyer who is skilled in birth defects can provide a free consultation to examine your case and determine the best course for you and your baby.
Prescription Drugs
A birth defect attorney may help parents determine the root cause of an infant's birth injury. Many birth defects result from genetics or factors during pregnancy. However, certain medications can also cause birth defects. Certain common medications have a significant impact on fetuses and babies, particularly during the first trimester of pregnancy. Anti-nausea medication, NSAIDs and chemotherapy medications are among the most frequently used. These drugs have been proven to increase the risk of developing limb and brain defects, heart defects and craniosynostois.
It is a doctor's professional duty to be aware of the potential risks when prescribing medications for women who are pregnant. If doctors do not follow this standard of care, then they may be held liable for malpractice. Pharmaceutical companies can be held liable as well for not adequately warning mothers of the dangers associated with their drugs. For instance, Zofran, a medication used to treat nausea in cancer patients, has been found to significantly increase the risk of major congenital problems in the first trimester of a pregnancy.
A birth defect attorney can help a family get compensation for medical expenses, income loss and quality of living. This can include hospital, doctor's pharmaceutical, and other expenses, as well as aidive devices and therapies.
Chemical Exposure
A birth defect lawyer can bring a lawsuit for families of children with congenital disabilities because due to the negligence of corporations exposing pregnant women to chemicals and drugs that can cause birth defects. These lawyers are specially trained to discover what caused the birth defect in order to file a lawsuit against companies that expose mothers to teratogens during the time they are at work or in their homes.
Some of the chemical exposures that can lead to birth defects are the fungicides, metals, herbicides and other pesticides. They are referred to as Teratogens as they interfere with the development of the fetus through making chemical changes that inhibit normal cell function or lead to organs to be malformed. These chemicals are present in various settings, including semiconductor manufacturing, metal cleaning and paint production.
Other dangerous chemicals that may cause birth defects are aliphatic chlorinated hydrocarbons such as perchloroethylene, trichloroethylene or dichloroethane. These chemicals are known to cause birth defects in the heart in babies born to mothers exposed while they were in the womb.
Parents have filed lawsuits against various companies involved in the exposure of families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune to these harmful chemicals. Some of these birth defects lawyers have secured significant settlements for families whose children were born with serious defects as a result of the exposure to toxic chemicals on the base.
Environmental Exposure
Certain birth defects can be caused by a combination of medical negligence and environmental factors or chemicals. If a family suspects that their child's birth defect may be due to medical negligence, prescription drug overdose or exposure to toxic chemicals, they should speak with an DC birth injury lawyer to discuss the issue.
Chemicals and other toxins in the environment can cause birth defects of a serious nature when they are inhaled or taken in by pregnant women. These chemicals are called teratogens. More than 4 million chemicals are found in our food, air and water. Some of these chemicals could be dangerous to pregnant women.
For instance, arsenic from drinking water and birth defect attorney cadmium in contaminated coal can cause numerous birth defects and health problems. Industrial solvents such as trichloroethylene, toluene, and benzene (a metal degreaser) are also associated with certain birth defects. Glycol ethers that are utilized in the production of semiconductors, silicon chips and video displays are well-known to increase the risk of developing birth defects too.
LK's experienced birth defect attorneys have brought numerous lawsuits on behalf of children who suffered from a range of birth defects as a result of wrongful toxic and chemical exposure at workplaces or at home. These lawsuits are based on complex scientific analyses and expert witnesses like toxicologists and epidemiologists.