A Birth Defect Lawyer Can Help Your Family Achieve Justice

Birth defects can have a profound impact on your family. You need to act quickly in the event that a medical professional committed an error during your pregnancy that caused your child's condition.

An experienced lawyer for birth injuries can help you file a claim against the parties responsible. In the meantime, begin collecting receipts, bills and credit card statements.

Causes of Birth Defects

The causes of birth defects aren't always clear. Some birth problems are caused by genetic disorders. Genes that are not functioning properly or totally absent (like Turner Syndrome and Down Syndrome) are a cause for these. They can also result from chromosomal disorders, in which one or more chromosomes are extra or too few cells.

These issues are typically diagnosed in utero using ultrasound or amniocentesis. A amniotic fluid sample is collected and tested to find chromosomal abnormalities and genetic changes. In some cases doctors will not find the birth defect until a child is born or shows symptoms, such as an extra finger, cleft lip, or club foot.

Apart from chromosomal and genetic issues, birth defects can be caused by problems with the brain or nervous system as well as musculoskeletal disorders that impact the joints, muscles and bones. They can vary from mild to serious and affect an individual's appearance or function, such as their learning abilities, strength and mobility.

While some birth defect attorney defects cannot be prevented, some can be prevented. Couples with an inheritance history of certain disorders should consider a genetic screening before trying for the birth of a child. Additionally, avoiding exposure to certain chemicals, drugs, infections and other environmental triggers can reduce the risk of some birth defects. Medical negligence or malpractice in the treatment of a pregnant woman may cause birth defects, which is why it's crucial to consult an attorney for birth defects if you believe an error in your medical treatment may have contributed to your child's condition.

Medical Malpractice

Medical negligence lawsuits that involve birth defects are often complex and require expert medical testimony. A compassionate and skilled medical malpractice lawyer can assist your family to get justice and get the money you need to ensure that your child is able to lead a normal life.

Your lawyer will identify the birth defect of your child and link it with the medical professionals involved in the birth. They will also have to determine the date that your child's birth defect was identified. This is important as it will allow you to know when you must submit a claim prior to the statute of limitations runs out.

It is also crucial for your attorney to have access to your medical records and any other documents you possess that are connected to your child's birth defect for example, receipts, bills and credit card transactions. This information will allow your attorney to demonstrate the extent of the injuries the child suffered and determine what compensation you are entitled to.

Birth defects can be caused by a myriad of factors like genetic conditions and medications, or exposure to diseases and infections. However, the majority of birth defects aren't caused by medical malpractice or any other type of negligence. A medical malpractice claim is only valid if a doctor is not performing his duty to care and this negligence results in a birth injury.

Drugs

Birth defects are the result of abnormalities that occur in a baby's body during the birth process or during pregnancy. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) explain that these birth defects can affect any part of the body and can be mild or even life-threatening.

Most of the time, these ailments are a result of genetics or mother's lifestyle. In certain cases, medical malpractice may be the reason for the child's illness. A Hyattsville birth defects lawyer can assist parents in determining the cause of their child's condition, and then take legal actions.

Drugs could cause grave birth defects in the fetus. These substances, also known as teratogens, include both prescription drugs and illegal street drugs. Thalidomide for instance, was a time when it was a popular sleep aid and pregnancy anti-nausea medication but was later discovered to be one of the most devastating drug-related birth defects in history. It caused the development of limbs, mental and physical impairments, as well as other physical impairments.

Doctors are required to consider the risks associated with certain drugs when prescribing them to pregnant women. They are committing malpractice if they fail to do so. Furthermore, pharmaceutical companies and pharmacists have the responsibility of educating women of the risks that comes with taking their product.

Toxic Exposure

While many birth defects are the result of an unfortunate genetic condition that cannot have been prevented, a number of them are caused by exposure to toxic chemicals while in utero. These chemicals can be found in the medications pregnant mothers are prescribed or in environmental pollutants at work or at home or in toxic chemical substances at work. These chemicals are known as teratogens. They are known to can cause severe birth defects, such as spina bifida and developmental delays as well as skeletal deformities or brain damage, muscle dystrophy, low birth weight, limb deformities, and heart issues.

Some toxic substances, such as arsenic or cadmium, are found in drinking water and soil. Lead is a frequent contaminant that is found on home paint, art supplies and plastics, as well as cosmetics, and other products. Other toxic substances include pharmaceuticals, such as selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which have been shown to increase the risk of birth defects.

A lawyer who specializes in birth defect cases can assist parents in determining whether an ingredient or a chemical was the main cause of the birth injury of their child. In these cases our lawyers can pursue a product liability claim against the drug or chemical manufacturer that designed and manufactured a dangerous drug. In addition, we may make a claim against doctors who prescribe drugs that have been known to cause adverse side effects on pregnant women.