Birth Defect Attorney: The Good The Bad And The Ugly

What Causes a Birth Defect?

It's the last thing any expecting parents wants to hear: Their child may be born with a defect. These birth defects are caused by factors that occur during the development of the fetus and can affect your child's mental or physical health.

A health care provider can diagnose some birth defects in pregnancy through newborn screening or prenatal tests. However, other birth defects may not be discovered until after your child is born or later when they develop symptoms.

What was the reason for your child's deformity?

Many birth defects remain unknown. However there are several things that can increase the risk of having a baby born with a defect. One of them is taking drugs or certain medications prior to becoming pregnant, having a family history of dubois birth defect law firm defects, or having certain medical conditions such as rheumatic disease. Women with an established history of these diseases should speak with an expert in genetic counseling about their options prior to becoming pregnant.

The degree of birth defect in a child depends on the body part affected and how severe the damage. The more serious a birth defect is, the more severe the problems.

Most birth defects are caused either by genetics or the environment during fetal development. You can reduce the chance of a birth deformity by speaking with a genetic counselor, learning about the health background of your family, and having a conversation with the geneticist.

Structural birth problems are those that alter the way a part of your body appears or performs. They can be obvious, such as cleft lips and cleft palettes, or invisible, like chromosome conditions or metabolic disorders. Genetic disorders that are inherited are a type of birth defect that is structural, while environmental factors, such as the absence of folic acid can lead to neural tube defects, which cause brain or spinal cord not developing properly.

Find More Evidence Than You Think

There are a variety of medical procedures pregnant women can undergo to find out more about possible birth defects. Amniocentesis, for instance, is where a doctor collects an insignificant amount of fluid from the fetus to conduct analysis. This test may reveal chromosomal mutations and other health conditions such as infections (such as rubella or Vimeo Zika) or genetic disorders.

A doctor may also examine the fetus's blood amniotic fluid, fetal blood and the umbilical cord for signs of birth defects. These tests are crucial in finding out the causes of birth defects. They also aid in determining how severe the birth defect is and the impact it will have on a child in his or her adult life.

Certain birth defects may not be detected until after a baby's birth or, in some rare cases, even as an adult. These conditions aren't readily apparent when they first appear and are sometimes only detected by using diagnostic equipment. In these cases, the medical expert witness must be conversant with the techniques and the education required to be able identify these defects. A medical malpractice lawyer with experience should be able to identify the appropriate expert for your case.

Hire a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

A child born with a severe defect or a severe birth injury can alter the life of the family. These injuries can cause long-term physical and mental issues that require medical attention for a lifetime.

Medical science can explain about 30 percent of birth defects but the rest remain unknown. Research has shown certain chemicals and substances, such as those found in prescription or over the counter medications that mothers take or children, harmful chemicals in homes and communities or groundwater that is contaminated air, can cause birth defects.

Doctors are required to examine a pregnant mother's current medications, and advise her about any dangers for the embryo. If they fail in this obligation, they could be held responsible for birth defects caused by medications.

Doctors must also evaluate the safety and efficacy of any procedure or device they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x-ray equipment, surgical instruments and other equipment. If a doctor makes a mistake using the equipment or fails properly calibrate the equipment, it could lead to grave consequences for the baby. This would be considered malpractice. When this happens, it's important to speak with a medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible. In some states you have only one year to file a claim for medical malpractice, so it's best to start the process as soon as possible.

Begin by completing the first Step

mount ephraim birth defect lawyer defects affect one out of 33 babies born each year and are a leading cause of infant mortality. These conditions could be life-threatening, and can trigger permanent physical, cognitive and emotional challenges. Scientists have, in some instances, linked the birth defects' causes to exposure to prescription and non-prescription drugs, environmental toxins, complications of motherhood, infections, pregnancy and delivery and medical history of the family, or genetic diseases (like sickle cell disease PKU, also known as genetic diseases). But in about 70% of birth defects cases the cause is not known.

Some birth defects are easily visible and can be detected either at birth or during the first year of life. Others, like heart defects or developmental and intellectual disabilities aren't as easily identified and require specialized tests.

Researchers are attempting to determine what causes eagle Mountain Birth Defect law Firm defects and how these can be avoided. Women who smoke, drink or consume illegal substances while pregnant are at greater risk of having a child with certain defects. Women with a family history involving genetic disorders inherited from their parents may want to consult a genetic counselor before trying to conceive. They should also utilize the March of Dimes Family Health History form to gather information about medical conditions that can be traced through their families. This information should be shared with their doctor or genetic counselor.