Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Legal Team

Finding out that your child has an abnormal birth defect is one of the most terrifying and confusing experiences you can be faced with. It's crucial to reach out to an experienced birth defect legal team as soon as you can.

A lawyer can inform you the reasons for birth defects, and how you can file a lawsuit to seek damages on behalf your child.

Causes of Birth Defects

Birth defects are structural changes within the body that affect the way it appears or functions. They can happen at any point during pregnancy, but most occur within the first three months. Some are obvious, while others can only be detected by a healthcare professional. They can vary in severity from mild to severe.

Genetic problems are the cause of most birth defects. These happen when a gene alters (mutates) or is not present completely. Some genes are inherited from parents, while others originate from the environment. Environmental factors can include drinking alcohol, smoking or taking certain medications during pregnancy. Exposure to harmful chemicals could also increase the risk of having a birth defect.

Some birth defects can be treated but the majority cannot. These include surgery, medications, and special home treatment. Surgery can correct certain birth defects like the cleft palate and lips, as well as spina-bifida. Other issues, such Tay-Sachs's syndrome, can be treated using medications.

Women who smoke or drink alcohol during pregnancy are at greater risk risk of having a child with a birth defect. Women who have an ancestral history of birth defect are at higher risk too. It is important to talk with a doctor about the chances of having a child with birth defect.

Medical Malpractice

In many cases, birth defects result from medical negligence during pregnancy or during delivery. A New York birth defects lawyer can help parents file an action for malpractice against the doctor or other medical professionals responsible for the child's condition.

For instance, a physician might have erroneously prescribed medication to the mother during her pregnancy that increased the likelihood of the child being born with a particular defect. If the child has a severe mental deficiency because of that medication, the child can receive disability benefits from the government to help with their needs.

The medical professional or hospital also could have failed to detect a known birth defect in the mother during the fetal screening. If the doctor failed to conduct tests or discuss the results with the parents they could be liable for wrongful birth claims.

Midwives, medical facilities and health professionals are required to disclose and report medical records relating to birth defects. The information is used for monitoring birth defects actions and to determine patterns, clusters and possible causes. The information is not available to the general public or other people unless authorized by applicable laws and regulations, including HIPAA. These regulations may differ based on the area of. The information is used only for purposes approved by the department of health for the state. All employees participating in the program to monitor birth defects must sign confidentiality agreements and birth defects receive instruction on how to handle confidential information.

Prescription Drugs

The risk of certain birth defects can be identified before a child is born via prenatal ultrasounds, blood tests and amniocentesis (obtaining an amniocentesis sample of the fetal amniotic fluid). These more precise screening methods are offered to women who are at greater risk of having a pregnancies due to an antecedent history with the mother or her advancing age.

Certain prescription or over-the-counter medications can cause serious side effects in pregnant women. Pharmaceutical companies and those who prescribe these medications are obliged to warn doctors of the dangers. If they fail to take this step, they may be held responsible for birth injuries.

Hospital, medical and pharmaceutical expenses can pile up quickly as a result of a birth defect, especially serious ones that require lifetime treatment and treatment. It is essential to gather all receipts and bills, credit card records, and other documentation that demonstrates your losses and your right to compensation.

Most birth defects are diagnosed before the infant is born or shortly after, and some can be treated with surgery. Others could be permanently affecting the individual throughout his or her life and causing significant limitations and disabilities. A compassionate, knowledgeable birth defect lawyer can help families obtain the compensation they deserve. If you suspect your child was born with a birth defect, it's important to start a claim prior to the statute of limitations expires.

Environmental Exposure

Birth problems can be caused by various environmental factors. These include prescription or over the counter medications and chemical exposure at workplace or at home. The causes may be difficult to identify. When too many babies are born with the same defect within the same time frame or the same location, it's called a "cluster".

If there is any doubt that an injury to a child's birth or defect was caused by medical malpractice and a medical malpractice lawyer should be sought out. A compassionate and knowledgeable medical malpractice lawyer can assist families receive the benefits they are entitled to so that the birth defect or birth injury won't be a permanent negative impact.

Many states have laws that require tracking of birth defects. This includes the capture of data from hospital discharge records. The information can be used to detect anomalies and trends.

This information can be gathered and shared through various programs including: