Birth Defects and Medical Malpractice

Every four and a half minutes, one baby in the United States is born with an anomaly in the birth process. These birth defects could have a lasting impact on the lives of those affected.

Variations in the way cases are classified and identified can lead to either under or over-ascertaining certain subtypes of birth defects. A well-designed surveillance program uses active case ascertainment (including medical record abstraction and clinical review) in addition to passive reporting.

Causes

A baby born with a defect or injury can be ill-health for a long time. Birth defects are often the result of an error in medicine or a mistake made by a doctor during pregnancy.

In some instances birth defects can be prevented through prenatal care and good nutrition. In certain instances, birth defects can be caused through environmental factors like exposure to toxic chemicals or toxic substances. Birth defects are also caused by complications that occur during pregnancy like the uterine restriction, rupture of the amniotic sac or the inability to supply oxygen to the fetus (also called anoxic brain injury).

Certain birth defects are caused by genetic illnesses that run in families. These are easily detected with a blood test or ultrasound. Certain of these diseases are treatable or preventable like PKU as well as sickle cell diseases and cleft lip and cleft palate. Other birth defects have no reason and are classified as congenital anomalies or congenital conditions.

Women over 30 and who belong to certain ethnicities have an increased risk for some birth defects. Couples with an identical history of genetic diseases may wish to speak with a genetic counselor before attempting to get pregnant. This can aid them in determining if further testing is necessary. Newborn screening tests are able to detect certain conditions, like critical congenital defects and certain infections that could be treated immediately.

Diagnosis

Birth defects are abnormally shaped growths that can affect any part of the human body. They can affect organ function or the structure of the person. A healthcare professional can spot birth defects during pregnancy or after the baby is born, or in the early years of childhood. Some birth defect law firms defects are visible like cleft lips or craniofacial anomalies or palates, while others are less obvious, such as congenital heart disease and biliary atresia (an obstruction of the duct which carries the bile into the liver).

Many birth defects can be identified through newborn screening tests, which look for certain health problems. PKU and Birth Defects congenital hypothyroidism and sickle Cell Disease are just a few of the diseases that can be detected through newborn screening tests. Newborn screening is also used to detect genetic diseases like Down syndrome. A healthcare professional can detect some birth defects through ultrasounds during pregnancy and blood tests, depending on the kind of defect.

It's not always it possible to pinpoint the cause of birth defects, but it is usually linked to environmental factors. This could include exposure to prescription or over-the-counter drugs, chemical substances that pollute air and water in communities, or complications that occur during pregnancy or delivery. Other times, birth defects are the result of a doctor not taking appropriate steps to prevent or treat a known medical condition. In these cases medical malpractice lawsuits can be pursued.

Treatment

Treatment options for a diagnosed birth defect vary depending on the severity and nature of the defect. Some birth defects can be fixed before the baby is born. Others may require surgery or medical intervention after the baby is born.

The most frequent birth defects are chromosomal. due to missing or additional genes in a person's cells. These are often inherited from parents. Structural birth defects include things like cleft lip, neural tube defects and heart issues. These birth defects are caused by issues with the development of the baby's organs particularly during the first three months of pregnancy.

Screening tests for birth defects may be done during pregnancy, after a child is born, or later in life when symptoms begin to show. These tests can be carried out via ultrasounds or blood tests. The patient can also undergo a genetic test for birth defects to see whether they are predisposed to a particular ailment.

Preventing birth defects is not always easy. Certain birth defects are caused by complications that occur during pregnancy, while others can be traced back to environmental factors. The use of drugs, tobacco or alcohol during pregnancy could lead to birth defect attorney defects. Some birth defects are also due to chemicals that can be found in the surrounding environment, including herbicides and pesticides such as Agent Orange used during the Vietnam War from 1962 to 1971.

Compensation

Despite the recent advances in medicine, birth defects and injuries remain a tragic reality. Fortunately many birth defects can be prevented. It is essential to speak with an experienced lawyer if you suspect that birth defects could be due to the negligence of medical experts. A medical malpractice lawyer who is knowledgeable and compassionate will help you understand the legal options that you have and pursue compensation for your family's losses as well as expenses.

Our team of skilled birth defect lawyers has many years of experience handling cases of birth defects that are not correct. Our firm is a law firm that only accepts plaintiffs practice and we are proud on the quality of service we offer our clients. We will take the burden off your shoulders so you can focus on your child and your family.

We can help you pursue compensation for damages including future and past medical expenses or loss of income punitive damages in certain circumstances and emotional distress. Our attorneys will thoroughly investigate the situation and work hard to ensure that your family receives the best possible outcome.

Drug makers must ensure that their products are tested thoroughly before releasing them onto the market, and also warn consumers of any possible side effects. If your child's birth defects resulted from a drug, you can file a product-liability lawsuit with the help of a birth defect drug lawyer.