Birth Defect Attorney 10 Things I d Like To Have Learned Sooner

What Causes a Birth Defect?

It's not something that any expecting parents wants to hear: their child may have a birth defect. These birth defects are caused things that happen during fetal development and can affect your child's mental or physical health.

A doctor can identify birth defects in pregnancy through the prenatal test or newborn screening. Other birth defects may only be detected following your child's birth or when symptoms begin to appear.

What caused your child's deficiency?

The reason for many birth defects is not known. There are several factors that increase the chance of being pregnant with a child with a birth defect. One of them is taking drugs or certain medications before becoming pregnant or having a family history of birth defects or having medical conditions such as rheumatic illness. Women with a family background of these disorders are advised to speak with a genetic counselor prior to getting pregnant.

The extent to which a birth defect in a child causes serious issues or not depends on which body part is affected and the extent of the body part affected. Typically, the more severe the defect it, the more serious the problem will be.

The majority of birth defects are caused by genetics or the environment during fetal development. You can lower the risk of having a birth defect by speaking with a genetic counselor and learning about the health history of your family, and meeting with geneticists.

Structural Birth Defect Law Firms imperfections are those that alter how a part of the body appears or functions. They can range from visible, such as cleft lip and cleft palate, up to the invisible, such as metabolic disorders or chromosome disorders. Inherited genetic conditions can result in birth defects that are structural. Environmental factors, such as the lack of folic acids, can cause neural tube defects, which result in brain or spinal cord development not functioning properly.

Find More Evidence Than You Think

There are many medical procedures pregnant women can undergo to discover more about a potential birth defect. Amniocentesis can be one of them, which is when a healthcare professional collects an insignificant amount of fluid from the fetus to conduct examination. This test could reveal chromosomal variations in addition to other health conditions like infections (such as rubella or Zika) or genetic disorders.

A doctor can test the amniotic fluid, blood and the fetus's tissues for signs of birth defect. These tests are vital in finding out the reason for birth defects. They also aid in determining the severity of a birth defect could be and the effects it could affect a child later in their adult life.

However some birth defects can go undetected until a baby is born, or in rare instances, Birth Defect Law Firms even as an adult. These problems aren't visible before they are present and are often only discovered through diagnostic equipment. In these instances, the medical expert witness must be familiar with the technology and have the knowledge and experience required to recognize these issues. A lawyer who has experience should be able to identify the right specialist for your case.

Employ an attorney who specializes in medical malpractice

A child born with a severe defect or a severe birth injury can drastically alter the life of a family. These injuries can lead to lifelong physical and psychological challenges that often require a lifetime of medical care.

Medical science is able to explain approximately 30 percent of birth defect cases However, the majority of cases remain unsolved. Research has shown certain chemicals and substances such as those found in prescription or over the counter medications taken by a mother and toxic chemicals found in the community and in homes or in groundwater that has been contaminated with air may cause birth defects.

Doctors are required by law to analyze the medications taken by the expecting mother and inform her of any possible dangers for the baby. If they fail to fulfill this duty, they may be held responsible for birth defects caused by medication.

Doctors also have a duty to determine the safety of any procedure or device they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x-ray machines surgical instruments, and other equipment. This could have serious consequences for a child when a doctor uses the equipment improperly or does not calibrate it correctly. This is considered medical malpractice. It's important to speak with a medical malpractice lawyer as soon as you can if this happens. In some states, you're given only one year to file a claim for medical malpractice and it's recommended to start the process as soon as you can.

Take the First Step

Birth defects affect one of 33 babies born each year, and are a major cause of infant mortality. The condition could be life-threatening and lead to many long term mental, emotional and physical problems. In some instances, scientists have identified the cause to be a mother's exposure to prescription or non-prescription medications, toxins found in the environment as well as maternal infections, complications of pregnancy and delivery or medical history in the family (like genetic illnesses like sickle cell diseases or PKU). However, in the majority of all birth defects the cause is unknown.

Certain birth defects are easily visible and can be detected either at birth or during the first year of life. Some birth defects, like heart defects or developmental and intellectual disabilities, require specific tests to determine the cause.

Researchers are trying to figure out the causes of birth defects and how some of them can be prevented. Women who drink, smoke or take illegal drugs when pregnant are at greater risk of having a child with certain defects. Women with a history of family members that includes genetic disorders that are inherited may want to consult with a genetic counselor prior to trying to have a baby. They can also use the March of Dimes Family Health History form to collect information on medical conditions that run through their families. This information should be shared with their doctor or genetic counselor.