Birth Defect Law

Birth injuries and defects are caused by a variety of causes. In many instances, these issues are avoidable.

Often, they are result of medical malpractice in pregnancy. Other causes include chemical exposure. Workers in beauty salons and paint factories as well as cleaning operations for metal are at risk of developing these types of defects.

Causes

Birth defects are structural problems that impact one or more parts of the body. The severity of these defects can vary from mild to life-threatening. Around 1 out of 33 babies is born with a birth defect each year.

If a baby is born with a birth defect it can be a heartbreaking experience for parents and other family members. Some birth defects are passed down from the genetic makeup of parents, while others are caused by a variety of factors, including obstetrical complications and medication side effects, contaminations, or toxins.

Studies and Birth Defect Attorney defect attorneys have shown that some of the causes of birth defects are due to environmental causes, including medications that are negligently prescribed by doctors and toxic chemicals at home and workplace, and toxins that contaminate the environment. In the Vietnam War, mothers were exposed to the herbicide Agent Orange, which resulted in birth defects in children. Unfortunately, a lot of these birth defects could have been prevented with the right treatment.

Symptoms

A birth defect may affect how the body looks or birth defect attorney works. It can be structural like a mouth or Birth Defect Attorney lip cleft, or it could be caused by changes in genes. A chromosome additional is responsible for Down syndrome. Environmental factors and medications may be the cause of this condition.

Certain birth defects, such as Cleft lips and palates are obvious, whereas others are less obvious. Some of these include the delayed response to sound, or an inability to achieve developmental goals, like crawling and sitting up.

A birth injury may be the result of an anomaly in the birth process or it could happen during labor and delivery for example, a caput succedaneum (a swelling on the newborn's scalp due to pressure during a head-first delivery). Sometimes, these injuries can be difficult to identify, especially when they manifest as lowered heart rate, poor oxygen levels, or the drooling.

Treatment

If your child was born with an abnormal birth defect, there are treatment options which can improve his or her condition. These include medication, surgery and specialized therapy.

According to the CDC Birth defects can affect any body part and affect how it appears or performs. They also can affect the expected lifespan of your child.

A variety of health professionals can help a newborn with a birth defect, including pediatricians, family practitioners and neonatologists. If your baby has a severe birth defect like club foot, you might require an orthopedic or limb specialist surgeon.

You could file a malpractice lawsuit if your doctor did not fulfill the obligation of care you received during pregnancy and this breach caused your child to be born with defects. It is the responsibility of both doctors and pharmaceutical companies prescribing certain medications to inform women who are expecting or planning to become pregnant about the risk of birth defects. This includes selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These drugs have been linked to a number of health problems that include birth defects.

Damages

Medical professionals must take every precaution to ensure that babies are not born with birth injuries or defects. If doctors fail to take these precautions parents may be legally entitled to compensation to pay for their costs.

There are various types of damages based on the severity of an injury or birth defect. A lawyer can assist you determine which damages you should seek.

The CDC reports that every year one in 33 babies is born with an anomaly in the birth. These conditions range from cleft lips to missing limbs, and they can have severe and long-lasting consequences.

It is imperative to act fast to make a claim if your child has an birth defect that is the result of medical malpractice. The time limit for filing a claim will expire in the near future. A Pittsburgh medical malpractice attorney can help you. A legal consultation will also assist you in determining the value of your case.

Statute of limitations

You could be eligible to make a claim if your child has a birth defect or injury that could easily been avoided by negligence on the part of medical professionals. There are strict deadlines, also known as statutes or limitations which you must follow in order to avoid having your claim being dismissed.

Birth defects are the result of abnormalities that affect a newborn infant. They can lead to physical or mental disabilities, and even death. These cases fall under different areas of law including medical malpractice, products liability and employment law. For instance, the drug Thalidomide caused fetal defects a few years ago, which led to class actions against its manufacturer.

Although birth defects are a tragic part of life, they are often avoidable. Medical malpractice lawsuits are essential to safeguard patients.

Finding an Attorney

While advances in technology and advancements in medical technology have greatly reduced the risk that come with pregnancy and birth however, birth defects are still a possibility. Parents who are shocked to discover that their child was afflicted by an injury or defect that was caused by birth are legally entitled to compensation.

According to the CDC, birth defects can affect any part of an infant's body, and can have an enormous impact on their function and appearance. Some of these issues are not recognized until after the birth of the baby or even later. Many of these disorders are related to medical negligence.

A caring and skilled medical malpractice lawyer can assist your family to recover the damages that you are due for your child's injuries. These damages can include emergency surgeries, long term care and treatment, medication, physical therapy, special education costs and other expenses related to the child's disability.