15 Amazing Facts About Birth Defect Attorneys

Why It Is Important to Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

Being aware that your child has an abnormal birth defect can transform what was supposed to be an enjoyable experience into a stressful and unsure experience. It is important to contact a medical malpractice or birth defect lawyer as soon as you can.

You'll need to gather bills and receipts, credit card payments, and other evidence of your losses in order to get full compensation for your losses. We have successfully represented families in lawsuits against large electronics companies as well as agricultural pesticide producers and commercial growers.

Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice or mistakes that occur during pregnancy can be the cause of many birth defects. Certain of these problems are more severe than others, however all birth defects or injuries can be devastating for the child and the family members who love them. A medical malpractice attorney can assist in determining if the doctor's error which led to the injury or defect.

Doctors can identify birth defects through screening tests during pregnancy. These tests can be done and interpret correctly to inform parents about the possibility that their child may have a birth defect. This information may allow them to choose to end the pregnancy or at least prepare for the child's birth and treatment. If the doctor is unable to take or interpret the results of these tests, or if they fail to notify the parents of the results, this may be deemed medical malpractice.

Medical treatments for birth defect are usually expensive. These treatments can include procedures, specialists, medications as well as speech and physical therapies as well as assistive equipment. The compensation a lawsuit for wrongful birth can aid in easing the financial burden that is associated with these costs and make it easier for families to receive the treatment their child requires. Medical malpractice claims are often complex and time-sensitive. It is therefore essential to get a skilled attorney immediately.

Prescription Drugs

Despite the advances in medical science and the advancement of technology, birth problems and injuries are possible. Mild or severe birth defects and injuries usually require lifetime medical attention. In some cases, they could even cause death. A Boston lawyer for dangerous drugs can help parents recover compensation to cover medical expenses now and in the future, such as hospitalizations and doctor's appointments, rehabilitation services, assistive equipment and more.

If a physician prescribes medication to a pregnant mother that increases the risk of her child's having a birth defect, they may be guilty of medical malpractice. They must be aware of which medications may adversely affect the growth of a fetus and not recommend harmful substances to the foetus.

Prescription medicines that increase the risk of a birth defect are known as teratogens. These include anti-seizure medication such as Dilantin and Tegretol. The FDA has advised against taking these medications during pregnancy. They may increase the risk of cleft lips and cleft palates, as well as the brain, heart and lung abnormalities. They can also cause miscarriage in women who are pregnant, or nursing. Parents can sue their doctors, the makers of the drugs, and the pharmacists who dispensed them for not warning about the dangers.

Toxic Chemicals

Parents often wonder the reason their child was born with a birth deformity. However, there are a variety of factors that could cause a birth defect, from drug-related side effects or exposure to toxic chemicals in the uterus.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 1 out of 33 babies are born with a birth defect. These ailments can vary from minor to serious and even life-threatening. A lot of the time, a birth defect is an unfortunate genetic anomaly that occurs through no fault of the mother. Birth defects can be caused by chemical or environmental exposure in the womb. These chemicals are referred as teratogens. They increase the risk of functional or structural defects which are not reversible in offspring.

There is a wide range of industrial chemicals that have been linked to birth defects as well as other reproductive harms and a lot of people across the country are exposed to these chemicals every day. The list of potentially harmful chemical is extensive, ranging from semiconductor and technology factories with clean rooms, to pesticides used in nurseries and farms, as well as automobile, paint, plastics and paint manufacturing facilities.

Most of the time, the corporations that produce these chemicals don't adequately test them for their potential effects on humans, and it's not unusual to see them fail to include adequate warnings in their products and services. The birth defect lawyers at LK can help families fight against big corporations that place profits over the safety and health of their employees and children.

Environmental Exposure

The experience of having a child born with a birth defect can be extremely stressful for parents as they will require medical attention throughout the lifetime of their infant. Certain birth defects can cause mental and physical disabilities for the infant for the rest of their lives dependent on the degree of the defect.

While certain birth defects are unavoidable due to genetics, many others are caused through exposure to chemicals or environmental factors during pregnancy. These include prescription drugs and toxic chemicals that the mother could ingest, or chemical substances that have contaminated groundwater or air.

In addition to medical malpractice, birth defect attorney defect lawsuits can also be filed against individuals or businesses that are liable for the injuries suffered by the child. If a doctor prescribes a medication that increases your child's chance of having a birth defect then they could be held responsible.

It's also the case for those who expose their employees to harmful chemicals and other substances. Many studies have shown that exposure to pesticides, fungicides in combination with lead, metals, and paints could increase the chances of having a child who has certain birth defects. This is why lawsuits have been filed against beauty salons and metal cleaning operations, semiconductor manufacturing facilities, and paint factories for their role in the development of serious birth defects in children. Web-based Integrated Birth Defects Surveillance in New York State. Wang, Y., Tao, Z., Steen, P.M., Cross, P.K., Druschel, C.M. Hwang, S.-A. Journal of Public Health Management & Practice. 14(6): E1-E10. 2008.