10 Things We All Do Not Like About Birth Defect Litigation

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with an anomaly in the birth this can be devastating for you and your family. Therapy costs, medical bills and other expenses can quickly accumulate.

A Hyattsville birth defect lawyer can help you file an action to collect compensation for the expenses of caring for your child with disabilities. Legal claims for birth defects are complicated and therefore it is vital to seek legal advice whenever you can.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must adhere to a standard of care when treating pregnant women and their babies. A doctor can be held liable for damages if their actions result in birth defects or injuries. A DC lawyer who has expertise in lawsuits for birth defects can determine if your child's condition was caused by a medical error during the pregnancy or delivery.

A doctor could also be accountable for a birth injury when they fail to recognize or appropriately respond to fetal distress. This can lead to various serious problems, including hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and brain injuries like cerebral palsy.

The difference between birth defects and birth injury is that defects are part of a person's genetic makeup and injuries are triggered due to something happening during labor, pregnancy, or birth. The most common injuries are Erb's Palsy, where the nerves controlling the infant's arms and legs are stretched or torn. Another form of injury is the caput succedaneum, a swelling on the scalp. Both of them can cause lifelong disability, and ongoing treatment can cost a significant amount of money. A Washington, DC lawyer who is skilled in birth defects can provide a free consultation to review your case, and decide on the best course for you and your baby.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer may be able to assist parents determine the reason for the child's birth injury or defect. Many birth defects are caused by birth defects or genetics. However, certain medications can also cause birth defects. A number of commonly used medications can have a negative impact on the fetuses. This is especially applicable in the early months of pregnancy. These include anti-nausea medications and NSAIDs as well as chemotherapy medications as well as certain antibiotics, and more. These drugs have been shown to increase the risk of limb and brain defects, heart defects and craniosynostosis.

It is the professional responsibility of doctors to consider the potential risks when prescribing medications for women who are pregnant. If doctors fail to meet this standard of care they may be liable for medical malpractice. Pharmaceutical companies could be held liable as well for not adequately informing mothers of the risks associated with their products. Zofran is a medication that is used to treat nausea among cancer patients, has been shown to increase the risk of major defects in the first trimester pregnancies.

A birth defect attorney can assist families in getting compensation for medical expenses, income loss and quality of living. This can include doctor's, hospital prescription, pharmaceutical, and other costs, in addition to assistive devices and treatments.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer can bring an action on behalf of families of children with congenital disabilities resulting from the negligence of companies who expose pregnant women chemicals or drugs that cause birth defects. They are trained to discover the reason for the birth defect to file a lawsuit against companies that expose mothers to teratogens as they work or in their home.

Some of the chemical exposures that contribute to birth defects are the use of fungicides and metals as well as herbicides and other pesticides. These chemicals are referred to as Teratogens as they interfere with the healthy development of the fetus through producing chemical changes that block normal cell function or lead to organs that are malformed. These chemicals are present in a variety environments, including metal cleaning and semiconductor manufacturing.

Other chemicals that may cause birth defect law firms defects include hydrocarbons that are aliphatic, such as dichloroethane or trichloroethylene perchloroethylene. These chemicals are known to cause cardiac birth defects in babies born to mothers who were exposed in the womb.

Parents have filed suit against a number of companies involved in exposing the families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune to these harmful chemicals. Some of these birth defect lawyers have gotten significant settlements for families whose children were born with severe defects because of the toxic chemical exposures at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Some birth defect lawsuit defects could be caused by a combination of medical negligence and environmental conditions. If a family suspects that the birth defects of a child could be the result of medical negligence, prescription drug overdose, or exposure to harmful chemicals or chemical substances, they should speak with an DC birth injury attorney to discuss their case.

Chemicals and other toxins in the environment can cause birth defects of a serious nature if they are ingested or taken in by pregnant women. These chemicals are referred to as Teratogens. Over 4 million chemicals are present in our food, air and water and a few could be harmful if they come into contact with pregnant women.

For instance, arsenic from drinking water and cadmium from contaminated coal can cause a variety of birth defects as well as other health issues. Certain birth defects are also associated with industrial solvents like benzene (a metal degreaser), toluene (a solvent for plastics) and trichloroethylene. Glycol ethers, used in the production of silicon chips, semiconductors and video displays, are recognized to increase a woman's risk of developing birth defects too.

LK's highly experienced birth defect lawyers have brought many lawsuits on behalf of children who suffer from a range of birth defects caused by the wrongful exposure to chemicals and toxic substances at workplaces or in their homes. These lawsuits are based on complex scientific analyses and expert witnesses like toxicologists and epidemiologists.