Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Attorney

Knowing that your child is suffering from an issue with their birth can transform the joy of parenthood into a terrifying experience. The majority of birth defects require lifelong medical treatment. This can result in massive financial burdens.

A New York birth defect attorney can determine if your child's health issue was caused by negligence on the part of doctors or dangerous chemicals or drugs.

Causes of Birth Defects

It is important to contact an Long Island birth defect attorney immediately if your child has a birth defect that could have been prevented by a medical professional. A reputable attorney can manage the previous step quickly and efficiently, so that you can grieve the loss of a loved one.

Birth defects are structural or functional changes in the body of a fetus which can affect virtually any part of the human body. They can result in physical issues, intellectual and developmental disabilities such as difficulties communicating or learning or having difficulty with activities such as walking or caring for oneself.

Some birth defects can even be identified before the baby is delivered through specific tests. This includes analyzing the cells in a sample of blood or taking a sample of amniotic liquid or the placenta. Nowadays, doctors are able to detect birth defects using ultrasound of the fetus and magnetic resonance imaging.

Some birth problems are caused by genetic causes, such as abnormalities in a fetus's chromosomes or genes. These defects can be passed down from the parents, or they may be caused by mutations in the DNA of the fetus which occurred during the gestation process. Trisomy 21, Spina Bifida and Tay-Sachs are two of the most frequent genetic birth defects. Many other birth defects that are genetic are not known to have a cause in any way.

Medical Malpractice

You may be able to bring a lawsuit against a doctor for medical malpractice in the event that you or your child were injured by a mishap made by the health care provider. This could include failures to diagnose, for instance, a doctor who does not take the symptoms seriously, gives a wrong diagnosis, and does not begin the appropriate treatment or fails to follow-up with the results of tests. It can also include mistakes with medication, like an incorrect diagnosis of anesthesia or prescribing too much medication, or the wrong medications, and surgical mistakes.

Finding an attorney with experience in malpractice suits can be difficult. But you can seek recommendations from family members and acquaintances and also attorneys in other areas. You can also contact the state bar. Bar associations generally have search and referral tools to help you find an experienced medical malpractice lawyer.

Chemical Exposure

Sometimes birth defects result from exposure to hazardous chemicals that harm the mother or the fetus. Many of these chemicals are employed in workplaces where they are used in the production of products like plastics paints, batteries, and ceramic glazes. These chemicals can be consumed or inhaled, or absorbed by the body's skin. Certain of these chemicals have been proven to increase the risk of having a birth defect in a baby such as spina Bifida and other physical and mental conditions.

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

Contact an experienced New York birth injury lawyer for a free consultation now in the event that you believe the birth defects of your child were caused by medical negligence, a dangerous drug or toxic exposure during pregnancy. These claims have an extremely strict statute of limitations and are time-sensitive. An expert attorney can help determine if your child is eligible to file a claim and if it is best to file it in court or via a settlement agreement.

Product Liability

Many birth defects are caused by an incorrect prescription or exposure to chemicals. If parents suspect that the child's condition is due to negligence in medicine or the use of dangerous drugs they should consult an attorney for birth defects right away. These cases can be complicated and extremely time-sensitive.

Medical malpractice claims typically concern the underlying cause of a birth defect due to environmental factors, such as exposure to chemicals or environmental toxins and prescriptions for improperly administered drugs or care for prenatal issues that are inadequate. It is imperative for families to seek legal advice as soon as they can since the statute of limitations for a medical malpractice case is set at one year.

Birth defect lawsuits involving medications are also brought in instances where the doctor acted negligently when prescribing medications to the mother, lawsuit for instance not understanding how a specific drug might interact with other medications that the mother might be taking or not adequately advising the mother of the possible side effects. A Maryland attorney for medical birth defects can assist clients in recovering damages when a doctor causes a birth defect or injury through acting negligently.

A family who has a newborn with a serious birth defect can face enormous expenses, which include surgery, therapy and ongoing treatment for the rest of their child's life. A knowledgeable and experienced birth defect lawyer can assist parents determine if the child's medical condition was the result of medical malpractice or a harmful drug toxic exposure.