Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with a birth defect this can be devastating for your family and you. The cost of therapy, medical bills and other losses can quickly accumulate.

A Hyattsville lawyer who is specialized in birth defects could help you claim compensation for the cost of taking care of your disabled children. Legal claims for birth defects are a bit nebulous and therefore it is vital to seek legal advice as soon as you can.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must adhere to a set of standards when treating pregnant women or their infants. Doctors can be held responsible for damages if their actions result in birth defects or injuries. A DC lawyer with experience in birth defects lawsuits can assist you in determining whether your child's condition was caused by a medical mistake during pregnancy or the birth.

A doctor may also be held liable for birth injuries if they fail to detect fetal distress or do not respond appropriately. This could lead to a variety of serious problems, including hypoxic ischemic brain injury (HIE) and brain injuries such as cerebral palsy.

The difference between a birth defect and a birth injury is that defects are a part of a person's genetic makeup and injuries are caused due to something happening during labor, pregnancy, or delivery. Injuries can include conditions such as Erb's palsy which is caused when the nerves that stimulate and control the infant's arms are stretched or torn during the birth process, and caput succedaneum, a swelling of the scalp. Both of these could cause permanent disability and require ongoing treatment, which can result in significant medical bills. A Washington, DC lawyer who is specialized in birth defects will provide a free consultation to analyze your case and decide on the best course for you and your baby.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect attorney may help parents determine the root of a child's birth injury. While many birth defects are the result of genetics and the factors that influence the mother's pregnancy however, they can also be caused as a result of medication. Certain common medications can have a negative impact on the fetuses. This is especially true in the first three months of pregnancy. Anti-nausea medicines, NSAIDs and chemotherapy medications are among the most popular. These medications have been linked to an increased risk of deformities in the limbs and heart defects, brain deformities and craniosynostois.

It is the responsibility of a doctor to be aware of the potential risks when prescribing medications for pregnant women. If doctors fail to adhere to this standard of care, they could be held accountable for malpractice. Pharma companies may also be held accountable for not adequately inform mothers of the risks that come with their medication. Zofran, which is used to treat nausea among cancer patients, has been shown to increase the risk of major defects during the first trimester pregnancies.

A birth defect lawyer can assist families in getting compensation for medical expenses, loss of income and the quality of life. This can include doctor's, hospital or pharmaceutical expenses, as well as aidive devices and therapies.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer may sue families of children who have congenital disabilities as a result from the negligence of companies exposing pregnant women to chemicals and medications that cause birth defects. They are trained to determine what caused the birth defect in order to bring a lawsuit against companies which expose mothers to teratogens as they are at work or in their homes.

Some of the chemical exposures that lead to birth defects are metals, fungicides, herbicides and other pesticides. These chemicals are known as teratogens due to their impact on the healthy development of the fetus by making chemical changes that inhibit normal cell function or lead to organs that are not properly formed. These chemicals are present in various settings, including semiconductor manufacturing, metal cleaning and paint production.

Other harmful chemicals that could cause birth defects are aliphatic hydrocarbons with aliphatic chlorinated chemistry such as trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene and dichloroethane. These chemicals have been proven to cause birth problems, including cardiac disorders, in babies born to mothers who were exposed to them during the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits in order to ensure that companies are held accountable for the families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, to harmful chemicals. Some of these birth defect lawyers have won significant settlements for families who had their children born with serious defects as a result of exposure to toxic chemicals at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Certain birth defects can be caused by the combination of medical negligence and environmental conditions or chemicals. If a family is concerned that the birth defect in their child could be due to medical malpractice, prescription drug overdose or exposure to toxic chemicals, they should consult an DC birth injury lawyer to discuss the situation.

If pregnant women ingest or absorb contaminants from the environment and then develop birth defects. Teratogens are the term used to describe these chemicals. More than 4 million chemicals can be found in our air, food and water. Certain of these chemicals may be harmful to pregnant women.

For instance, arsenic from drinking water as well as cadmium derived from coal that has been contaminated can trigger a variety of birth defects as well as other health issues. Certain birth defects are also related to industrial solvents, such as benzene (a metal degreaser) and toluene (a solvent for plastics) and trichloroethylene. Glycol-ethers can increase the chance of birth defects in women. These chemicals are used to manufacture semiconductors display panels, silicon chip displays, and video displays.

LK's highly experienced birth defect lawyers have brought many lawsuits on behalf of children who suffered from a range of birth defect lawsuit defects caused by wrongful toxic and chemical exposure at work or at home. These lawsuits require complex scientific analyses and expert witnesses like toxicologists and epidemiologists.