A Birth Defect Lawyer Can Help Your Family Achieve Justice

A birth defect for a child could change the course of your family's life. If a medical professional has committed mistakes during your pregnancy and your child's condition was a result it is imperative to take action immediately.

An experienced birth injury lawyer can assist you in filing an action against those who are responsible. In the meantime, begin collecting receipts, bills, and statements from credit cards.

Birth Defects and Causes

Birth defects can have many causes. Some are caused by genetic issues, where genes aren't functioning properly or are absent completely (like Turner syndrome and Down syndrome). They can also result from chromosomal problems, where one or more chromosomes contain more or too few cells.

These issues are usually identified in utero by ultrasound or amniocentesis. A sample of amniotic fluid is taken and tested to identify genetic abnormalities and chromosomal changes. In some instances doctors, Birth Defect Law Firms however, don't be able to identify the birth defect until a baby is born or exhibits symptoms, like having an extra finger, cleft lip or club foot.

Birth defects can also be caused by problems in the brain, nervous system or birth defect law firms the musculoskeletal system. These problems affect the joints, muscles and bones. They can range from mild to severe and impact an individual's appearance or function, such as their learning capabilities mobility, strength and strength.

Certain birth defects are inevitable but some can be avoided. Couples that have an history of certain inherited conditions should consider the possibility of genetic screening prior to attempting to have a baby. Avoiding exposure to certain chemicals and medications and diseases and other environmental factors can reduce the chance of birth defects. Medical negligence or malpractice in the care of a pregnant woman could also contribute to birth defects, so it's important to speak with a birth defect lawyer when you suspect that a medical mistake may have contributed to the child's condition.

Medical Malpractice

Birth defects cases that involve medical negligence are usually complex and require expert testimony. A medical malpractice lawyer who is caring and knowledgeable will assist you and your family get the compensation required to ensure your child's regular life.

Your lawyer will first determine the birth defect of your child and connect it to the medical professionals who were involved in the birth. They will also need to identify the date when the birth defect was first identified. This is important since it will allow you to know the time frame you must make a claim before the statute of limitations expires.

Your attorney should have access to any documents you might have relating to the birth defect of your child, such as bills, receipts and credit card payments. This information can help your attorney establish the extent of your child's injuries and determine the type of compensation you are entitled to.

Birth defects can be caused by a myriad of factors that include genetic conditions chemical or medication or exposure to illnesses and infections. The vast majority of birth defects are not caused by medical malpractice or negligence. Medical malpractice claims are only valid if a physician is negligent in their duty of care and that negligence causes a birth defect law firms injury.

Drugs

A birth defect is a malformed development in some part of the body of a baby that occurs at birth defect law firm or occurs during pregnancy. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) informs us that these problems can affect any body part and vary from mild to life-threatening.

Often, these conditions are the result of genetics or the mother's lifestyle. In some instances, medical malpractice may be the reason for the child's condition. An experienced Hyattsville birth defect lawyer can help parents determine the cause of their child's illness and take legal action.

Drugs can cause serious birth defects. These substances, often referred to as teratogens, encompass both prescription drugs as well as illegal street drugs. Thalidomide was once extensively used as a sleep aid and anti-nausea medication for pregnant women but it proved to cause some of the most severe birth defects ever recorded. It led to limb reduction defects and other physical and mental impairments.

Doctors are required to consider the risks associated with certain drugs when prescribing them to pregnant women. If they fail to do so and commit malpractice, they have committed a crime. Pharmaceutical companies and pharmacists have a responsibility to warn women of the dangers associated with taking their products.

Toxic Exposure

Although many birth defects are a result of an unfortunate genetic defect that cannot have been prevented, a number of them are caused by exposure to toxic chemicals in the uterus. These chemicals can be found in the medications pregnant women take, in environmental contaminants in the workplace or at home or in harmful chemical agents at work. These chemicals are known as teratogens. They also have the potential to cause serious birth defects including spina bifida, development delays and skeletal abnormalities and brain damage, muscular dystrophy and low birth weight deformities of the limbs, and heart problems.

Some toxins, such as arsenic or cadmium, can be found in drinking water and soil. Lead is a common contaminant that can be found in paints for houses, art materials, plastics, and cosmetics. Other toxins include pharmaceuticals, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), that have been proven to cause an increase in birth defects.

A lawyer with expertise in birth defects can assist parents determine if a certain drug or chemical caused their child's birth injury. In these cases, our lawyers may pursue a product liability lawsuit against a chemical or pharmaceutical manufacturer who has developed and manufactured dangerous chemicals or medications. Or, we could file a lawsuit against doctors who prescribe drugs that are known to have adverse side effects on pregnant women.