A Birth Defect Lawyer Can Help Your Family Achieve Justice
Birth defects can have a profound impact on your family. It is imperative to act swiftly should a medical professional committed an error during your pregnancy that resulted in your child’s illness.
A birth injury lawyer with experience can assist you with bringing a claim against the responsible parties. In the meantime, you can begin collecting receipts, bills and credit card statements.
Causes of Birth Defects
Birth defects can have a variety of causes. Certain birth problems result from genetic problems. Genes that aren’t working properly or are absent completely (like Turner Syndrome and Down Syndrome) are a cause for these. They may also be caused by chromosomal problems, where one or more chromosomes have excess or too many cells.
These problems are usually diagnosed during utero via ultrasound or amniocentesis. A sample of amniotic liquid is taken and tested to identify genetic mutations and chromosomal anomalies. In some instances doctors may not detect the birth defect until a child is born or has symptoms, such as having an extra finger, cleft lip or club foot.
Birth defects can also be caused by problems in the nervous system, brain or musculoskeletal system. These issues affect joints, muscles, and bones. They can range from moderate to severe and impact how a person looks or functions, including physical strength, learning capabilities and mobility.
While some birth defects cannot be prevented, many can be prevented. Couples with the history of certain genetic disorders should consider genetic testing prior to trying to have a child. Additionally avoidance of certain chemicals such as drugs, infections, and other environmental triggers can reduce the risk of some birth defects. Medical negligence or malpractice in the care of a pregnant woman could also contribute to greensboro birth defect lawyer defects, so it’s essential to consult a santee birth defect law firm defect lawyer when you suspect that an error in your medical treatment may have contributed to the child’s condition.
Medical Malpractice
Birth defects cases that involve medical negligence are usually complex and require expert testimony. A medical malpractice lawyer who is compassionate and skilled can help you and your family receive the money you need to ensure your child’s normal life.
To determine whether you’re in a medical malpractice claim, your attorney will start by carefully identifying your child’s birth defect before linking it to the medical professionals involved in his or her delivery. Your attorney should also know when the birth defect of your child was discovered. This information is important because it will help you know when you must submit a claim prior to the statute of limitations expires.
Your attorney should also have access to any documents you might have relating to the birth defect of your child, like bills, receipts as well as credit card payments. This will enable your attorney to demonstrate the severity of the injuries the child suffered and determine what amount of compensation you’re entitled to.
Birth defects can be caused through a variety of factors that include genetic conditions and medications, or exposure to infections and illnesses. However, the majority of birth defects are not caused by medical malpractice or any other negligence. Medical malpractice claims are only valid if a doctor is not performing his duty of care and this negligence results in a birth injury.
Drugs
A birth defect is a malformed development in some part of the body of a newborn that is present at birth or is developed during pregnancy. The Centers for Disease Control explains that birth defects can affect any part of the baby’s body and vary from mild to dangerous.
Often, these issues are a result of genetics or mother’s lifestyle. In certain instances medical malpractice could be the cause of the child’s illness. A skilled Hyattsville birth defect lawyer can assist parents identify the cause of their child’s illness and pursue legal action.
Drugs can cause birth defects that are serious. These substances are called teratogens. They encompass prescription drugs and street drugs. Thalidomide was once extensively used as an anti-nausea and sleep aid medication for pregnant women, but it turned out to be the cause of some of the most severe birth defects ever recorded. It caused limb-reduction defects as well as other mental and physical impairments.
Doctors are required to consider the risks of certain medications when prescribing them to pregnant women. They commit malpractice if they fail to take this step. In addition, pharmaceutical companies and pharmacists have an obligation to warn women of the potential risk that comes with taking their product.
Toxic Exposure
Although many birth defects are a result of a genetic anomaly that could not have been prevented, some of them are the result of exposure to toxic chemicals in the uterus. These chemicals can be found in the medications that pregnant women take, in environmental contaminants in the home or at work or even in harmful chemical agents at work. These chemicals, also referred to as teratogens may cause serious birth defects such as spina bifida. They may also trigger developmental delays, skeletal abnormalities in the brain, as well as muscular dystrophy.
Certain toxic substances like arsenic or cadmium may be present in drinking water and soil. Lead is a frequent contaminant that can be found in paints for homes and art materials plastics, cosmetics, and other materials. Other toxins include pharmaceuticals such as selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), that have been proven to cause an increase in birth defects.
A lawyer that specializes in birth defects can help parents determine whether a drug or chemical caused their child’s birth injury. In these instances our lawyers can bring a product liability claim against a chemical or drug manufacturer who developed and manufactured an unsafe chemical or medication. We may also bring a lawsuit against doctors who prescribe drugs known to cause adverse side effects in pregnant women.