Why We Why We Birth Defect Litigation And You Should Too

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child is born with a birth deformity it could cause a lot of grief for your family and you. Therapy costs, medical bills and other losses can quickly mount up.

A Hyattsville lawyer that specializes in birth defects could assist you seek compensation for the cost of caring for your child with disabilities. A legal claim for birth defects could be complicated, so you should consult a lawyer as soon as you can.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must follow a standard of care when treating pregnant women and their infants. If the actions of a doctor fall below this standard and result in birth defects or injuries the doctor could be held accountable for the harms suffered by their patient. A DC lawyer who has experience in lawsuits involving birth defects can help you determine if your child's condition could have been caused by an error made by the medical professional during the pregnancy or delivery.

A doctor may also be held liable for birth injuries if they fail to identify fetal distress, or birth defects fail to respond appropriately. This can lead to a range of serious issues, such as hypoxic ischemic brain injury (HIE) and brain injuries such as cerebral palsy.

The distinction between birth defects and birth injury is that defects are a part of a person's genetic makeup however, injuries are caused by an event that occurs during labor, pregnancy, or delivery. The causes of injuries include conditions such as Erb's palsy that occurs when the nerves which energize and control the infant's arms are stretched or torn during birth, and caput succedaneum, an increase in the size of the scalp. Both of these conditions can lead to lifelong disability and require ongoing treatment, which can result in hefty medical costs. A Washington, DC lawyer who specializes in birth defects can provide a free consultation to look over your case and determine the best course of action for you and your baby.

Prescription Drugs

An attorney for birth defects may be able help parents determine the root of the birth injury of a child. While many birth defects are caused by the genetics of a mother's pregnancy however, they may also occur as a result of medications. A variety of common medications can have a profound effect on fetuses and babies, particularly during the first trimester of pregnancy. These include anti-nausea medications, NSAIDs, chemotherapy drugs such as certain antibiotics and many more. These medications have been linked with an increased risk of deformities in the limbs and heart defects, brain defects and craniosynostosis.

It is a doctor's professional duty to consider these risks when prescribing medications for women who are pregnant. If doctors do not adhere to this standard of care, they could be held accountable for negligence. Pharma companies may also be held accountable for not properly informing mothers about the risks associated with their medication. For instance, Zofran, a medication used to treat nausea in cancer patients, has been proven to significantly increase the risk of major congenital problems in the first trimester of a pregnancy.

An attorney for birth Defects birth defects can help a family get compensation for medical expenses, income loss and quality of life. This could include hospital expenses physician's fees, pharmaceutical costs and other expenses in addition to assistive devices, and therapy.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer may bring a lawsuit on behalf of the families of children suffering from congenital disabilities that result from the negligence of companies who expose pregnant women chemicals or drugs that cause birth defects. These lawyers are specially-trained to identify the cause of the birth defects so that they can bring a lawsuit against companies who expose pregnant women to teratogens either at workplace or at home.

Some of the chemical exposures that contribute to birth defects are metals, fungicides, herbicides and other pesticides. These chemicals are known as Teratogens because they affect the development of a healthy embryo through chemical changes that cause abnormal organs or prevent normal cell function. These chemicals are found in a variety of locations, such as metal cleaning and semiconductor manufacturing.

Other chemicals that can cause birth defects include aliphatic cyaninated hydrocarbons such as trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene and dichloroethane. These chemicals have been proven to cause cardiac birth defects in babies born to mothers exposed while they were in the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits in order to ensure that companies are held accountable for the families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina exposed to harmful chemicals. Some of these birth defect lawyers have won substantial settlements on behalf of families whose children were born with severe birth defects because of the toxic chemical exposures at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Certain birth defects can be caused by an unintended medical error and environmental factors or chemicals. If a family suspects a child's birth defects may be due to medical negligence, prescription drug overdose, or exposure to harmful chemical such as benzene, they should seek out a DC birth injury lawyer to discuss their case.

Chemicals and other substances in the environment can cause serious birth defects when they are consumed by or absorbed by pregnant women. These chemicals are referred to as teratogens. More than 4 million chemicals are present in our air, food and water and some are harmful if they come into contact with a woman who is pregnant.

For example, arsenic in drinking water as well as cadmium derived from coal that has been contaminated can trigger various birth defects, as well as other health issues. Industrial solvents, such as trichloroethylene, toluene, and benzene (a metal degreaser) are also associated with certain birth defects. Glycol-ethers are also known for their ability to increase the risk of birth defects in women. These chemicals are used to manufacture semiconductors display devices, silicon chip displays and video displays.

LK's highly experienced birth defect lawyers have brought numerous lawsuits on behalf of children who suffer from a range of birth defects as a result of wrongful toxic and chemical exposure at work or at home. These lawsuits require complex scientific analyses and expert witnesses, such as toxicologists and epidemiologists.