Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Attorney

The joy of parenthood can turn into a nightmare when you learn that your child was born with a birth defect. Most birth defects require lifelong medical treatment, which could result in a staggering cost for the family.

A New York birth defect attorney will determine if your child's condition is the result of negligence in the medical field or hazardous chemicals or drugs.

Causes of Birth Defects

You should contact a Long Island birth defect attorney immediately should your child suffer from a birth deformity that could have been prevented by an expert medical professional. A reputable attorney can manage the preceding step quickly and efficiently, so that you can grieve for your injured loved one.

Birth defects are structural or functional changes to the body of a fetus that can affect almost any body part. They can lead to physical issues or intellectual and developmental impairments like difficulty communicating or learning or having difficulty with activities like walking or caring for oneself.

Certain birth defects can be detected before the baby is delivered through specific tests. These include analyzing cells in a blood sample or looking at amniotic fluid or the placenta. Doctors are increasingly able to diagnose birth defects through fetal ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging.

Certain birth defects are caused by genetic factors such as the chromosomes in a fetus's body and genes. These defects can be passed down from parents, or they can be caused by new mutations in the DNA of the embryo that were discovered during the conception. Trisomy 21, Spina Bifida, and Tay-Sachs are some of the most commonly encountered genetic birth defects. Many other genetic birth defects have no explanation at all.

Medical Malpractice

If you or your child sustained injuries to the body due to an error made by a doctor or other health care professional, you may have a claim based on medical malpractice. This could be due to inability to diagnose, such as the doctor does not consider your symptoms seriously, or makes a wrong diagnosis, and fails to initiate the proper treatment, or fails to follow up with test results. This could also include mistakes with medication, like the wrong diagnosis of anesthesia, giving too much medication or the wrong medication, or surgical errors.

Finding an attorney with experience in malpractice suits is difficult. But you can seek recommendations from your family and friends, as well as attorneys in other areas. In addition, you can contact your state bar association. Most bar associations offer search/referral services to help you locate a qualified medical negligence attorney.

Chemical Exposure

Birth defects can be caused by dangerous chemicals that are harmful to the fetus or mother. A lot of these chemicals are present at work, and they are utilized in the making of items like paint ceramic glazes, batteries and plastics. These chemicals are consumed by inhalation or ingestion through the skin. Certain of these chemicals have been proven to increase the risk of a birth defect in a baby such as spina bifida or other physical and mental conditions.

The teratogen chemical compounds can be found in prescription drugs that were not prescribed by doctors, in chemical substances used in the workplace like those in semiconductor "clean room" environments, or in toxic substances that contaminate the air and water of communities. The Thornton Law Firm represents many parents whose children were born with a serious birth defects after their mothers were exposed to pesticides, coal ash and glycol ethers at work.

If you believe the birth defect of your child was caused by medical negligence, a dangerous drug or exposure to toxic substances during pregnancy, contact an experienced New York birth injury attorney for a no-cost consultation on case strategy today. These claims have a strict statute of limitations and are time-sensitive. An experienced attorney can help you determine whether your child is able to make a claim and if it is necessary to file it through a court case or a settlement agreement.

Product Liability

Many birth defects are the result of an unsuitable prescription or exposure chemicals. It is crucial for parents to consult an attorney for birth defects immediately when they suspect that their child's health issue was the result of medical negligence or the use of dangerous drugs. These cases can be extremely complicated and urgent.

Medical malpractice claims typically concern the cause of a birth defect that is caused by environmental factors, like exposure to environmental chemicals prescriptions that are not properly followed or drugs, or inadequate prenatal care. It is important for families to seek legal help as soon as they can, because the time-limit for medical malpractice cases is limited to 1 year.

Medication birth defect lawsuits are also filed in cases where a doctor was negligent when prescribing medications to the mother, such as by failing to understand how a specific drug might interact with other medications she may be taking or by not properly advising her of the possible side effects. A Maryland attorney for medical birth defects will assist clients in obtaining damages when a doctor is negligent and causes a birth injury or birth defect.

A family who has one of their children born with a severe birth defect can be faced with huge expenses, birth defect lawsuits including surgery, therapy and ongoing treatment for the rest of the child's life. An experienced and knowledgeable birth defect lawyer can assist parents to determine if their child's medical condition was the result of medical negligence or a hazardous drug or toxic exposure.