Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Legal Team

It can be a terrifying and confusing experience to discover that your child was born with a birth defect. Contacting a birth defect legal team with experience is vital as soon as you can.

A lawyer can explain the causes of a birth defect as well as how to file a lawsuit to claim damages for your child.

Causes of Birth Defects

Birth defects are structural modifications in the body that affect the way it appears or functions. They can occur anytime during pregnancy, but most occur within the first three months. Some are visible, while others can only be identified by a doctor. They vary in severity from mild to severe.

Most birth defects result from genetic disorders. They occur when a gene is altered (mutates) or is not present altogether. Some genes are inherited from parents, while others are inherited from the environment. Environmental factors can include drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes or taking certain medications during pregnancy. Exposure to harmful chemicals could also increase the risk of a birth defect.

Some birth defects can be treated, however, the majority of birth defects cannot be treated. Some of the treatments are surgery, medicine, and special home care. Certain birth defects, such as Cleft lip and palate, as well as spina bifida, are corrected through surgery. The use of medicine can treat other ailments, such as Tay-Sachs and patent ductus artery.

Women who smoke, drink alcohol or both during pregnancy are at the highest chance of having babies with birth defects. Women who have a history of birth defects in their family are also more at risk. It is important to talk with a physician about your chances of having a child with birth defect.

Medical Malpractice

In many cases birth defects are the result of medical mistakes during pregnancy and delivery. A New York birth defects lawyer can assist parents in filing a malpractice lawsuit against the doctor or other medical professionals who caused the child's condition.

For instance, a doctor could have misjudgedly prescribed medication to the mother during pregnancy that increased the likelihood of the baby being born with a specific defect. If the child suffers from severe mental disabilities due to the medication, they are eligible to receive government assistance to assist them with their needs.

A medical professional or hospital may be unable to recognize an birth defect that was present in the mother's body when screening for fetal defects was carried out. If the doctor did not conduct a test or discuss the results with parents, he may be held liable for untrue claims.

Midwives, medical facilities and health professionals are required to disclose and report medical records relating to birth defects. This information can also be used to determine trends and clusters, and possible causes. This information should not be shared with other individuals or to the general public unless it is authorized by applicable laws, regulations, and HIPAA. These regulations can vary depending on the jurisdiction. The information is only used for purposes approved by the department of health of the state. In addition all employees involved in birth defects surveillance must sign a confidentiality agreement and be instructed on the appropriate handling of confidential information.

Prescription Drugs

Amniocentesis as well as prenatal ultrasounds and blood tests are able to determine the risk of certain birth defects prior to the baby is born. Women with higher risk pregnancies might be given these more thorough screening options due to an ancestral history or advanced maternal age.

Certain prescription or over-the-counter medications can trigger serious adverse effects in pregnant women. Pharmaceutical companies and the doctors who prescribe these drugs have obligations to inform physicians of the risks and if they fail to do so, they could be held accountable for the resulting birth defect lawyer injuries.

Hospital, medical and pharmaceutical expenses can pile up quickly as a result of a birth defect, especially those that are severe and require ongoing treatment and care. It is crucial to keep all receipts, bills and credit card records and other documentation that proves your losses and your right to compensation.

Most birth defects are diagnosed before the infant is born or shortly thereafter and are able to be corrected with surgery. Others can be permanent, affecting the individual throughout his or her life and causing significant limitations and disabilities. A knowledgeable, sympathetic birth defect lawyer can assist families obtain the amount of compensation they deserve. You must file a claim as soon as you suspect that your child has an anomaly in their birth.

Environmental Exposure

There are numerous environmental causes of birth defects. These range from prescription or over-the counter medications to exposure to chemicals at the workplace or in the home. These causes are often difficult to identify. When a lot of babies with the same defect are born within a specific time period and location, this is called a birth defect "cluster".

A medical malpractice attorney should be consulted when there is a suspected cause of a birth defect or birth injury. A compassionate and knowledgeable medical malpractice lawyer can help families obtain the settlement they're entitled to, so that the birth defect or birth injury doesn't have lifelong negative effects.

Many states have laws that require the monitoring of birth defects. This includes the gathering of information from hospital discharge records. The information is then utilized to identify anomalies, trends and birth Defect potential clusters.

This information is able to be gathered and shared via various programs including: