Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Attorney

Learning your child has an issue with their birth can make the joy of parenting into a harrowing experience. Most birth defects require lifelong medical treatment, birth defects which can cause a huge financial burden.

A New York birth defects attorney can determine if your child's problem is the result of medical malpractice or toxic chemicals or drugs.

Causes of Birth Defects

If your child is suffering from a birth defect that could have been cured by a medical professional, then you should speak with an Long Island birth defects attorney immediately. A reputable lawyer can handle the preceding steps quickly and efficiently, ensuring you can have the time to grieve for your injured family member.

Birth defects are functional or structural changes to the body of a fetus that can affect every part of the human body. They can cause physical problems, intellectual and developmental disabilities such as difficulties learning or communicating or having problems with everyday activities such as walking, or caring for oneself.

Certain birth defects can be diagnosed before the baby is born with special tests, for example, studying the blood cells in a sample or looking at samples of amniotic fluid or the placenta. Increasingly, doctors can also diagnose birth defects through ultrasound of the fetus and magnetic resonance imaging.

Some birth defects can be caused by genetic factors such as the chromosomes in a fetus's body and genes. These abnormalities may be inherited from parents, or they could be caused by new mutations to the fetus's DNA that took place during conception. A few of the more common genetic birth defects include trisomy 21, spina Bifida and Tay-Sachs's disease. Many other genetic birth defects have no cause known in any way.

Medical Malpractice

It is possible to bring a lawsuit against an individual doctor for medical negligence when you or your child was injured as a result of a mistake made by the health provider. This includes the failure to diagnose, for instance, a doctor who does not consider the symptoms seriously, gives an incorrect diagnosis, is unable to begin the proper treatment, or fails to follow up with test results. It can also be a result of mistakes in medication, such as the wrong diagnosis of anesthesia, prescribing too much medication or the wrong medication, or surgical errors.

Finding an attorney who has experience in malpractice suits is difficult. You can ask your friends, family members, and attorneys in other fields for recommendations. In addition, you may contact your state bar association. Most bar associations offer search/referral services to help you find a qualified medical negligence attorney.

Chemical Exposure

Sometimes, birth defects can be caused by exposure to harmful chemicals that affect the mother or the foetus. A lot of these chemicals are discovered at work, where they are utilized in the production of various products, including paints ceramic glazes, batteries and plastics. These chemicals are ingested or inhaled, or absorbed through the skin. Certain of these toxins have been proven to increase the chance of a child developing birth defects, such as spina-bifida, or other physical and psychological conditions.

These teratogens can be found in medicines that doctors have not properly prescribed, in the use of chemicals in the workplace, for instance in semiconductor "clean rooms" or in toxic chemicals that contaminate air and water. The Thornton Law Firm has represented many parents whose children have been born with serious birth defects after the mothers were exposed to glycol ethers or coal ash, as well as pesticides at their workplace.

Contact an experienced New York birth injury lawyer for a free consultation now if you believe that your child's birth defects were caused by medical negligence, dangerous drug or toxic exposure during pregnancy. These claims are subject to the strictest time limit and are time-sensitive. An experienced lawyer can determine if a child is eligible to file claims, and also if it is appropriate to file the claim through an agreement with a court or a settlement.

Product Liability

Many birth defects can be the result of a wrong prescription or exposure to chemicals. It is crucial for parents to consult an attorney for birth defects immediately when they suspect that the child's condition is the result of medical negligence or dangerous medications. These cases can be extremely complicated and urgent.

Medical malpractice claims are often due to environmental factors that cause birth defect attorneys defects, such as inadequately prescribed drugs or medications or care that is inadequate during pregnancy. Families should seek legal assistance immediately as the statute of limitations on medical malpractice claims is only one year.

Birth defect lawsuits for medication are also filed when the doctor was negligent when prescribing medication to the mother, for example, in not understanding the way in which a certain drug could interact with other medications the woman might be taking or not adequately advising the mother of the adverse effects. A Maryland lawyer for birth defects in medication will assist clients in obtaining damages when a doctor acts negligently and causes birth injuries or birth defect.

A newborn who has a serious birth defect may have to pay for a hefty amount of medical treatment, surgery and therapy throughout the life of the child. A birth defect lawyer who is knowledgeable and experienced can assist parents determine whether the medical condition of the child was caused by negligence in the medical field, a dangerous drug or toxic exposure.