Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Attorney

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

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 recommended to contact an Long Island birth defect attorney promptly when your child is suffering from a birth defect that could have been treated by an expert medical professional. A reputable attorney will handle the preceding steps quickly and efficiently so that you can mourn your loved ones who have been injured.

Birth defects are functional or structural changes in the body of a fetus that can affect almost every part of the human body. They can lead to physical problems or developmental disabilities, intellectual and physical including difficulty communicating or learning, or having difficulty with activities like walking or taking care of oneself.

Some birth defects can even be identified before the baby is born with the help of specific tests. These include analyzing the cells in a sample of blood or looking at amniotic fluid or the placenta. Doctors can diagnose birth defects using fetal ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging.

Certain birth defects are caused by genetic factors such as abnormalities of a fetus’s chromosomes and genes. These genetic defects could be passed on from the parents, or they may be caused by new mutations in the DNA of the embryo that occurred during conception. Trisomy 21, Spina Bifida, and Tay-Sachs are some of the most commonly encountered genetic birth defects. Many other genetic birth defect have no cause known.

Medical Malpractice

If you or your child suffered an injury to their body due to a mistake by a doctor or health care professional, you could be able to sue for medical malpractice. This includes failing to diagnose, for instance, a doctor who does not consider your symptoms seriously, or makes a wrong diagnosis, and is unable to begin the proper treatment, or fails to follow up with test results. This could also include mistakes with medication, like an incorrect diagnosis of anesthesia or giving too much medication or the wrong medications, and surgical mistakes.

Finding an attorney with experience in malpractice suits can be difficult. You can ask family members, friends and lawyers in other areas for recommendations. In addition, you may contact your state bar association. Bar associations generally offer search/referral services to help you locate a qualified medical negligence attorney.

Chemical Exposure

Sometimes birth defects result from exposure to dangerous chemicals that affect the mother or the foetus. Many of these chemicals are present in the workplace where they are used to make products like plastics paints, batteries, and ceramic glazes. These chemicals are ingested or inhaled, or absorbed through the skin. Certain of these chemicals have been proven to increase the risk of a birth defect in a child such as spina bifida, or other physical and mental conditions.

These chemical agents known as teratogens can be found in prescription drugs that were not prescribed by doctors, in chemical substances employed in the workplace, such as those found in semiconductor "clean room" environments or in toxic substances that can pollute the air and water of communities. The Thornton Law Firm represents many parents whose babies were born with a grave birth defects due to the fact that their mothers were exposed to pesticides, coal ash and glycol ethers at work.

Contact an experienced New York birth injury lawyer for a free consultation now should you suspect that the birth defects of your child were caused through medical negligence, toxic exposure or dangerous drug during pregnancy. These claims are extremely time sensitive and there are strict deadlines for filing. An experienced attorney can determine if a child is eligible to make an claim, and if it is best to file it through an agreement with a court or a settlement.

Product Liability

Many birth defects can be due to an incorrect prescription or exposure to chemicals. It is essential for parents to contact a birth defect attorney immediately if they believe that their child's condition was due to medical negligence or the use of dangerous drugs. These cases can be extremely complicated and extremely time-sensitive.

Medical malpractice claims are often based on environmental factors that cause birth defects, for example, incorrectly prescribed medications or drugs or inadequate medical care during pregnancy. Families should seek legal help immediately as the statute of limitations on a medical malpractice claim is only one year.

Birth defect lawsuits for medication may also be filed when the doctor was negligent when prescribing medication to the mother, for example, not knowing how a particular drug would interact with other medications that the mother may be taking, or by not properly advising her of the potential side effects. A Maryland medication birth defect attorney can assist clients in recovering damages when a doctor acts negligently and causes birth injuries or birth defect.

A family who has a newborn with a serious birth defect can be faced with huge costs, including therapies, surgeries and treatment for the rest of their child's lifetime. An experienced and knowledgeable birth defect lawyer can assist parents determine if their child's medical issue was a result of medical malpractice, a dangerous drug or toxic exposure.