Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Attorney

The joy of parenting can be turned into a nightmare event when you discover that your child was born with a birth defect. Most birth defects require lifelong medical attention, which could result in staggering financial costs.

A New York birth defect attorney will determine if your child's illness was caused by negligence on the part of doctors or dangerous chemicals or drugs.

Causes of Birth Defects

You should contact a Long Island birth defect attorney immediately should your child suffer from a birth defect that could have been avoided by a medical professional. A reputable attorney can handle the previous step quickly and efficiently so you can grieve the loss of a loved one.

Birth defects are functional or structural changes in a fetus's body which can affect virtually any part of the human body. They can result in physical issues, intellectual and developmental disabilities like difficulty communicating or learning or having difficulty with activities such as walking, or caring for oneself.

Some birth defects can even be identified before the baby is delivered by using specific tests. These include analyzing the cells in blood samples or looking at amniotic liquid or the placenta. Doctors can identify birth defects by using ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging.

Some birth defects can be caused through genetic factors like the chromosomes of a fetus's and birth Defect law firms genes. These abnormalities can be inherited by parents or through mutations that occur in the DNA of the fetus during conception. Trisomy 21, Spina Bifida and Tay-Sachs comprise a few of the most commonly encountered genetic birth defects. Other birth defects that are genetic have no cause known.

Medical Malpractice

You may be able pursue a claim against a doctor for medical malpractice if you or your child were injured by a mishap made by a health care professional. This could include failing to diagnose, for instance, a doctor who does not consider the symptoms seriously, gives a wrong diagnosis, and fails to initiate the proper treatment, or fails to follow-up with test results. It could also involve errors in the administration of medication, for example, the wrong diagnosis of anesthesia, prescribing too much medication, or the wrong medication, as well as surgical errors.

Finding an attorney with experience in malpractice suits can be difficult. You can ask family members, friends as well as lawyers from other fields for recommendations. You can also contact your state bar. Bar associations generally offer search/referral services that can help you locate an experienced medical negligence attorney.

Chemical Exposure

Birth defects can be caused by dangerous chemicals that harm the fetus's mother or the mother. Many of these chemicals are found in the workplace where they are used to create items like plastics, paint, batteries, and ceramic glazes. These chemicals can be ingested or inhaled, or absorbed by the skin of the body. Some of these toxins have been found to increase the risk of having a birth defect in a baby such as spina bifida or other mental and physical ailments.

These teratogen chemicals can be found in drugs that doctors have negligently prescribed, in chemicals used in the workplace, such as those in semiconductor "clean rooms" or in toxic chemicals that contaminate the air and water. The Thornton Law Firm represents many parents whose children were born with a severe birth defect after their mothers were exposed to pesticides, coal ash, and glycol ethers at work.

Contact an experienced New York birth injury lawyer to set up a free consultation in the event that you believe the birth defect of your child was caused by medical negligence, a dangerous drug or toxic exposure during pregnancy. These claims have a strict statute of limitations and are time-sensitive. An experienced lawyer can help you determine whether your child has the right to file a claim and if it is appropriate to file the claim through a court case or a settlement agreement.

Product Liability

Many birth defects can be caused by an incorrect prescription or exposure to chemicals. If parents believe that the condition of their child is due to medical negligence or dangerous drugs and medications, they should speak with a birth defects attorney immediately. These cases can be extremely complicated and time-sensitive.

Medical malpractice claims are usually due to environmental factors that can cause birth defects, such as incorrectly prescribed medications or drugs or inadequate care during pregnancy. Families should seek legal advice immediately because the statute of limitations for medical malpractice claims is only one year.

A lawsuit for a Birth Defect Law Firms defect caused by medication can also be filed when the doctor was negligent in prescribing a medication to the mother. For example the doctor was not aware of the interaction of a drug with other medications that the woman may be taking or did not adequately inform her of its possible side effects. A Maryland attorney who specializes in medical birth defects can assist clients to recover damages when a doctor acts negligently and causes a birth injury or birth defect.

A family with a newborn with a serious birth defect can face enormous expenses, which include the cost of surgery, therapy and ongoing treatment for the rest of the child's life. A knowledgeable and experienced birth defect attorney can help parents determine if their child's medical issue was a result of medical malpractice, a dangerous drug or exposure to toxic substances.