Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with a birth defect this can be devastating for your family and you. The cost of therapy, medical bills and other expenses can quickly mount up.

A Hyattsville birth defect lawyer could help you file claim for reimbursement for the costs of taking care of your disabled child. Legal claims for birth defects are complex and therefore it is crucial to seek legal advice as soon as you can.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must adhere to an appropriate standard of care when treating pregnant women and their babies. When a doctor's actions do not meet the standards and cause birth defects or injuries, they can be held accountable for harms suffered by their patient. A DC lawyer who has expertise in lawsuits for birth defects can help determine whether your child's condition was caused by a medical error during pregnancy or the birth.

A doctor can also be held accountable for birth injuries if they fail identify fetal distress, or fail to respond appropriately. This can lead to a number serious problems including hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and brain injuries like cerebral palsy.

The distinction between a birth defect and a birth injury is that defects are part of a person's genetic makeup and injuries are triggered due to something happening during labor, pregnancy or during delivery. A possible injury is Erb's spalsy which is a condition where the nerves that control the infant's arms and legs are stretched or torn. Another form of injury is caput succedaneum - an increase in the size of the scalp. Both can result in permanent disability, and ongoing treatment will cost lots of money. A Washington, DC birth defect lawyer will provide a no-cost initial consultation to review your case and determine the best way to proceed for you and your child.

Prescription Drugs

An attorney for birth defects may help parents determine the root cause of a child's birth injury. Many birth defects are caused by the genetics of the baby or other factors during pregnancy. However, certain medications can also cause birth defects. A number of commonly used medications have a profound effect on fetuses, particularly in the first trimester of a pregnancy. They include anti-nausea medicines such as NSAIDs, chemotherapy medicines, certain antibiotics, and many more. These drugs have been linked with an increased chance of limb deformities, brain defects, heart defects and craniosynostois.

It is the professional responsibility of doctors to be aware of these risks when prescribing medications for pregnant women. If doctors fail to follow this standard of care, then they may be held liable for malpractice. Pharmaceutical companies can be held accountable for not adequately informing mothers about the risks associated with their medications. Zofran is a drug used to treat nausea among cancer patients, has been shown to increase the risk of major defects occurring in first-trimester pregnancy.

An attorney for birth defects can assist a family in obtaining compensation for medical expenses, income loss and quality of life. This can include doctor's, hospital, pharmaceutical, and other costs, as well as aidive devices and therapies.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer may bring a lawsuit on behalf of the families of children suffering from congenital disabilities that result from the negligence of companies that expose pregnant women chemicals or drugs that cause birth defects. These lawyers are specially trained to identify the cause of birth defects so that they can bring a suit against companies who expose pregnant women to teratogens either at work or at home.

Some of the chemical exposures that lead to birth defects are herbicides, fungicides, metals and other pesticides. These chemicals are called Teratogens since they interfere with the growth of the fetus producing chemical changes that block normal cell function or create malformed organs. These chemicals are present in a variety situations, such as the manufacturing of semiconductors and cleaning of metals.

Other chemicals that can cause birth defects are aliphatic chlorinated hydrocarbons such as perchloroethylene (trichloroethylene), trichloroethylene ( dichloroethane. These chemicals are known to cause heart defects in babies born to mothers exposed in the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits against a variety of companies who were responsible for exposing the families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune to these harmful chemicals. Some of these birth defect lawyers have secured significant settlements for families who have children who were born with severe defects due to the exposure to toxic chemicals on the base.

Environmental Exposure

Some birth defects are caused by a combination of medical negligence and environmental conditions. If a family suspects a child's birth defects may be due to medical negligence, prescription drug overdose, or exposure to harmful chemical and/or environmental factors, they should talk to an DC birth injury lawyer to discuss their case.

If pregnant women inhale or absorb pollutants from the environment, they can cause serious birth defects. Teratogens is the name given to these substances. Over 4 million chemicals exist in our food, air and water, and some of them are harmful if they come into contact with pregnant women.

Arsenic in drinking water or cadmium found in coal that has been contaminated, for example, can cause birth defects as well as other health issues. Industrial solvents such as trichloroethylene, benzene, and toluene (a metal degreaser) are also linked to certain birth defects. Glycol-ethers can increase the risk of birth defects in women. These chemicals are used in the production of semiconductors display panels, silicon chip displays, and video displays.

LK's experienced birth defect attorneys have brought many lawsuits on behalf of children who have suffered from a variety of birth defects caused by improper exposure to chemicals and toxic substances at work or in their homes. These lawsuits require complex scientific analyses and expert witnesses such as toxicologists and epidemiologists.