10 Things Competitors Inform You About Birth Defect Litigation

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with a birth defect, it can be devastating for you and your family. Medical bills, therapy costs and other expenses can quickly increase.

A Hyattsville birth defect lawyer could help you file an action to collect compensation for the cost of taking care of your disabled child. A legal claim for birth Defect attorneys birth defects can be complicated, so you should consult a lawyer as soon as you can.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must follow a set of guidelines when treating pregnant women and their babies. A doctor could be held accountable for any damages when their actions cause birth defects or injuries. A DC lawyer who has experience in birth defects lawsuits can assist you in determining whether your child's condition was caused by a medical mistake during pregnancy or during delivery.

A doctor may also be held accountable for birth injuries if they fail detect fetal distress or are unable to respond in a timely manner. This can result in a number serious problems including hypoxic-ischemic neuropathy and brain injuries like cerebral palsy.

Birth injuries differ from birth defects because they are caused by circumstances during pregnancy, delivery, or labor. Injuries can include conditions like Erb's Palsy which develops when the nerves that power and control the arms of a newborn are stretched or torn during the birth process, and caput succedaneum, a swelling of the scalp. Both of them can cause permanent disability and require ongoing treatment, which can result in significant medical bills. A Washington, DC lawyer who is skilled in birth defects can offer a free consultation to analyze your case and determine the best course of action for you and your baby.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect attorney may be able help parents determine the root of a child's birth defect. While many birth defects are the result of the genetics of the mother's pregnancy however, they can also be caused because of medications. Certain common medications have a significant impact on fetuses, particularly in the first trimester of a pregnancy. This includes anti-nausea medication such as NSAIDs, chemotherapy medicines including certain antibiotics, and more. These drugs have been found to increase the risk of limb and heart defects, brain deformities and craniosynostosis.

It is the professional responsibility of doctors to be aware of these risks when prescribing medicines for pregnant women. If doctors do not meet this standard of care, they may be liable for medical negligence. Pharma companies could also be held responsible for not properly informing mothers about the dangers of their medication. For example, Zofran, a medication used to treat nausea in cancer patients, has been demonstrated to significantly increase the risk of serious congenital defects during the first trimester of a pregnancy.

A birth defect lawyer can help a family get compensation for medical expenses, loss of income and the quality of life. This can include hospital, doctor's pharmaceutical, and other costs, as well as assistive devices and therapies.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer can file a lawsuit on behalf of families of children who have congenital disabilities because from the negligence of companies which expose pregnant women and medications that cause birth defects. They are trained to find out the reason for the birth defect so that they can bring a lawsuit against companies which expose mothers to teratogens while they work or in their home.

Some of the chemical exposures that can lead to birth defects include the fungicides, metals, herbicides and other pesticides. These chemicals are known as teratogens, because they can affect the development of a healthy fetus through chemical changes that can cause abnormal organs or prevent normal cell function. These chemicals can be found in many different settings, including semiconductor manufacturing and metal cleaning.

Other hazardous chemicals that could cause birth defects are aliphatic hydrocarbons with aliphatic chlorinated chemistry such as perchloroethylene, trichloroethylene and dichloroethane. These chemicals have been found to cause birth defects, including cardiac defects in babies born to mothers exposed to them while in the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits to expose companies to liability for the families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina exposed to harmful chemicals. Some of these birth defect lawyers have secured significant settlements for families that had children born with serious defects as a result of the toxic chemical exposures at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Some birth defects can be caused by a combination between medical negligence and environmental conditions. If a family suspects that the birth defects of a child could be the result of medical negligence or prescription drug overdose or exposure to harmful chemicals and/or environmental factors, they should talk to a DC birth injury attorney to discuss their case.

Chemicals and other toxins in the environment can cause serious birth defects when they are inhaled or taken in by pregnant women. Teratogens are the term used to describe these chemicals. More than 4 million chemicals can be found in our food, air and water. Certain of these chemicals can be harmful to pregnant women.

For instance, arsenic from drinking water as well as cadmium derived from coal that is contaminated may cause various birth defects and other health problems. Industrial solvents, such as benzene toluene and trichloroethylene (a metal degreaser) are also associated with certain birth defects. Glycol ethers, used in the production of semiconductors, silicon chips and video displays are known to increase the chances of having birth defects as well.

LK's experienced birth defect attorneys have brought many lawsuits on behalf of children who suffer from a variety of birth defect lawsuits defects resulting from unintentional exposure to toxic chemicals and chemicals at work or at home. These lawsuits typically involve complex scientific analysis and expert witnesses, including toxicologists and epidemiologists, geneticists, occupational medicine specialists and embryologists.