Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Attorney

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

A New York birth defects attorney can determine if the condition of your child is due to medical malpractice or harmful chemicals or birth defect attorney drugs.

Causes of Birth Defects

It is recommended to contact an Long Island birth defect attorney as soon you can 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 you can grieve your ailing loved one.

Birth defects are structural or functional changes in the fetus's body which can affect virtually any part of the human body. They can lead to physical issues as well as intellectual and developmental disabilities like difficulties in learning or communicating or having difficulties with tasks like walking or taking care of oneself.

Certain birth defects can be detected before the baby is born using specific tests, such as studying the blood cells in a sample or examining samples of amniotic fluid or the placenta. In the present, 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 the presence of abnormalities on the fetus's chromosomes, or genes. These genetic defects could be passed on from the parents, or they could result from new mutations to the fetus's DNA that occurred during conception. A few of the more commonly occurring genetic birth defects are spina bifida, trisomy 21 and Tay-Sachs disease. Many other genetic birth defects have no cause known in any way.

Medical Malpractice

It is possible to make a claim against an individual doctor for medical negligence if you or your child was injured by a mishap made by a health care professional. This can include failing to recognize the problem, for example, an obstetrician who fails to consider your symptoms seriously, gives an incorrect diagnosis, doesn't begin the correct treatment or fails to follow-up with the results of tests. This could also include mistakes in medication, such as an incorrect diagnosis of anesthesia or prescribing too much medication or the wrong type of medication, and surgical errors.

Finding an attorney who is experienced in malpractice suits can be difficult. You can ask your friends, family members and attorneys from other areas for suggestions. In addition, you can contact your state bar association. Bar associations generally have search and referral tools to help you locate a qualified medical malpractice attorney.

Chemical Exposure

Sometimes birth defects are caused by exposure to dangerous chemicals that harm the mother or the fetus. A lot of these chemicals can be used in the workplace, where they are used to manufacture products like plastics paints, batteries, and ceramic glazes. These chemicals are ingested through inhalation, ingestion or simply absorbed through the skin. Some of these chemicals are known to increase the chance of the child to develop birth defects, such as spina-bifida and other psychological and physical disorders.

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

If you suspect that the birth defect of your child was caused by medical negligence, a risky chemical or exposure to toxic substances during pregnancy, contact an experienced New York birth injury attorney to arrange a free case strategy session today. These claims are subject to the strictest time limit and are time-sensitive. An experienced attorney can determine whether a child is eligible to make an claim, and if it is best to file it through court or a settlement agreement.

Product Liability

Many birth defects are the result of an improper prescription or exposure to chemicals. If parents suspect that the condition of their child is the result of medical negligence or a dangerous drug, they should contact an attorney for birth defects right away. These cases can be extremely complicated and time-sensitive.

Medical malpractice claims are usually due to environmental factors that can cause birth defects, for example, incorrectly prescribed medications or drugs or care that is inadequate during pregnancy. It is important for families to seek legal assistance as soon as possible, because the time-limit for medical malpractice cases is limited to one year.

Birth defect lawsuits involving medications may also be filed when the doctor acted negligently when prescribing medications to the mother, for example in not understanding how a specific drug might interact with other medications that the mother may be taking, or by not adequately advising her of the potential side effects. A Maryland attorney for medical birth defects can help clients recover damages when a doctor acts negligently and causes birth injuries or birth defect.

A family with a newborn who is suffering from a serious birth defect lawyers defect may be required to pay for extensive surgical, medical, and therapy throughout the lifetime of the child. An experienced and knowledgeable birth defect attorney can assist parents determine if their child's medical condition was a result of medical malpractice or a hazardous drug or toxic exposure.