Why No One Cares About Birth Defect Litigation

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child is born with a birth defect this can be devastating for the entire family. Medical bills, therapy costs and other expenses can add up quickly.

A Hyattsville birth defect lawyer can help you file an action to collect reimbursement for the costs of taking care of your disabled child. A legal claim for birth defects could be complicated, so you should consult with a legal professional immediately.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must follow the highest standards of care when treating pregnant women and their babies. If the actions of a doctor are in violation of this standard and result in an injury or birth defect or injury, they could be held responsible for injuries suffered by their patient. A DC lawyer who is experienced in birth defect lawsuits will help you determine if your child's illness could have been caused by an error in medical care during pregnancy or during delivery.

A doctor can also be held accountable for birth injuries if they fail to identify fetal distress, or don't respond appropriately. This could lead to numerous serious issues, including hypoxic-ischemic neuropathy 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 make-up, while injuries are caused by an event that occurs during labor, pregnancy or during delivery. The most common injuries are Erb's Palsy which is a condition where the nerves that control the infant's arms and legs are stretched or torn. Another injury is caput succedaneum - a swelling on the scalp. Both of these conditions can cause permanent disability and require ongoing treatment, which can result in significant medical bills. A Washington, DC birth defect lawyer will provide a no-cost initial consultation to review your case and determine the most appropriate course of action for you and your child.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer might be able to assist parents identify the cause of a child's birth injury or defect. While many birth defects are caused by genetics and factors during the pregnancy of a mother however, they can also be caused as a result of medications. A number of commonly used medications have a profound effect on fetuses, especially in the first trimester of a pregnancy. These include anti-nausea drugs, NSAIDs, chemotherapy drugs including certain antibiotics, and many more. These medications have been linked to a higher risk of limb deformities and heart defects, brain deformities and craniosynostosis.

It is the professional responsibility of doctors to be aware of these risks when prescribing medications for women who are pregnant. If doctors fail to adhere to the standards of care required, they may be liable for medical negligence. Pharma companies may also be held responsible for not adequately informing mothers of the risks associated with their medications. For instance, Zofran, a medication used to treat nausea in cancer patients, has been demonstrated to significantly increase the risk of serious congenital defects during first trimester pregnancies.

A birth defect lawyer can assist families get compensation for the future and present medical expenses that result from the disability or injury, as well as loss of earnings and quality of life. This can include hospital, doctor's, pharmaceutical, and other expenses, as well aidive devices and treatments.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer can file an action on behalf of families of children who suffer from congenital disabilities that result from the negligence of companies that 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.

Metals, fungicides, herbicides and pesticides are among the chemicals that can cause birth defects. These chemicals are called Teratogens because they affect the development of a healthy foetus by causing chemical changes that cause abnormal organs or block normal cell function. These chemicals are present in a variety locations, such as semiconductor manufacturing and metal cleaning.

Other chemicals that can cause birth defects are aliphatic hydrocarbons, such as trichloroethylene perchloroethylene or dichloroethane. These chemicals have been known to cause birth defects, including cardiac defects in babies born to mothers who were exposed to them while in the womb.

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

Environmental Exposure

Some birth defects could be caused by a combination between medical negligence and environmental conditions. If a family suspects that their child's birth defect may be the result of medical negligence, prescription drug abuse or exposure to toxic chemicals, they should contact an DC birth injury lawyer to discuss the situation.

If pregnant women consume or absorb contaminants from the environment, they can cause serious birth defects. These chemicals are referred to as Teratogens. More than 4 million chemicals can be found in our air, food and water. Some of these chemicals could be dangerous to pregnant women.

Arsenic found in drinking water or cadmium in contaminated coal, for example, can cause birth defects as well as other health issues. Certain birth defects are associated with industrial solvents like benzene (a metal degreaser) as well as toluene (a solvent for plastics) and trichloroethylene. Glycol ethers, used in the manufacture of semiconductors, silicon chips and video displays, are known to increase the chances of having birth defects.

LK's highly experienced birth defect lawyers have brought many lawsuits on behalf of children who have suffered from a myriad of birth defects due to improper exposure to chemicals and toxic substances at workplaces or at home. These lawsuits typically involve an extensive scientific analysis as well as experts, such as toxicologists as well as epidemiologists, geneticists occupational medicine experts, and embryologists.