Why It Is Important to Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

Being aware that your child has a birth defect can turn what was supposed to be an exciting time into a stressful and unsure experience. It is essential to speak with an experienced medical malpractice and birth defect lawyer immediately.

You'll need to gather bills, receipts, credit card payments and other evidence of your losses in order to receive full settlement for your losses. We have successfully represented families in lawsuits against big electronics firms and agricultural pesticide companies as well as commercial growers.

Medical Malpractice

Many birth defects are caused by medical errors or negligence that occurred during the pregnancy. Certain of these problems are more severe than others, however all birth defects or injuries can be devastating for the baby and their loved ones. A medical malpractice lawyer can help determine if a doctor made an error that caused the injury or defect.

Some birth defects are detectable through screening tests that doctors carry out during pregnancy. When these tests are carried out and interpreted correctly, the parents will be aware of the risk that their child will have an abnormal birth. This information can permit them to terminate the pregnancy, or at a minimum, prepare for the birth of the child and treatment. Medical malpractice could be committed in the event that a doctor fails to interpret or carry out these tests, or in the event that he or she fails to inform parents of the results.

Medical treatments for birth defects are often expensive. They can include surgeries, specialists, medication, physical and speech therapies and assistive devices. The compensation a wrongful birth lawsuit could help to ease the financial burden that is associated with these costs, making it easier for families to receive the treatment their child needs. Medical malpractice cases are complex and time-sensitive, so it's important to hire an experienced attorney as quickly as you can.

Prescription Drugs

Despite the advancements in medical science and advances in technology, birth injuries and birth defects are possible. Birth injuries and birth defects can be severe or mild and require life-long medical care. In some instances they can even lead to death. A Boston dangerous drug lawyer can assist parents receive compensation for their child's present and future medical costs, including procedures in the hospital, doctor's visits, rehabilitation services, assistive devices and many more.

If a physician prescribes medication to a pregnant mother that increases the chances of her child's having a birth defect, they could be guilty of medical malpractice. They have a duty to know which medications could adversely affect the growth of a fetus and to avoid prescribing harmful medications to the fetus.

Prescription medications that increase the risk of having a birth defect are referred to as teratogens. They include anti-seizure medicines like Dilantin, Lamictal, Tegretol and Topamax. The FDA has advised against taking these medications during pregnancy. They may increase the risk of developing cleft lips and cleft palates as well as the brain, heart and lung abnormalities. These drugs can also lead to miscarriage for women who are pregnant or nursing. Parents can sue doctors, drug makers and pharmacists for failing warn about the dangers.

Toxic Chemicals

When a child is born with a birth defect parents often ask themselves what the cause is. The truth is that there are a variety of factors that can lead to birth defects, ranging from side effects of medication to toxic chemical exposure in the uterus.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, 1 in 33 babies are born with a birth defect. These birth defects can be serious or minor and can be life-threatening. In the majority of cases birth defects are an unfortunate genetic defect that occurs through no fault of the mother. Birth defects are often caused by chemical or environmental exposure during the womb. These chemicals are known as teratogens and increase the likelihood of irreparable structural or functional abnormalities in offspring.

There is a wide range of industrial chemicals that have been associated with birth defects as well as other reproductive harms and many people across the country are exposed to them every day. The list of chemical hazards that may be harmful is long, covering semiconductor and technology factories equipped with clean rooms, to pesticides that are used on nurseries and farms as well as plastics, paint, automobiles, and paint manufacturing facilities.

It's not uncommon for companies to fail to warn their customers about the dangers that could be posed by these chemicals. The lawyers from LK's birth defects can assist families in fighting big corporations that put profits before the health and safety their workers and children.

Environmental Exposure

Parents can be extremely upset due to a birth defect in a child, as they will need to provide medical attention for the entire life of their infant. Based on the severity of the condition, certain birth defects can result in lifelong physical and mental disabilities for the baby.

While some birth defects are unavoidable because of genetics, others can be caused by environmental or chemical exposure during pregnancy. This could be due to prescription drugs or toxic chemicals which could be ingested by the mother, or even from chemical substances that have caused contamination of the groundwater or air in a community.

Birth defect lawsuits aren't limited to medical malpractice. They are also filed against individuals or businesses who are accountable for the harm of the child. For instance, if a physician prescribes a drug that increases the chances of your child's birth defect lawyers defect and they are held responsible.

It is also true for individuals or businesses who expose their employees to harmful chemicals and substances. Numerous studies have revealed that exposure to pesticides, fungicides, lead, metals and paints may increase the risk of having a child with certain types of birth defects. Because of this, lawsuits have been filed against beauty salons and metal cleaning operations, semiconductor manufacturing facilities and paint factories for their involvement in the development of serious birth defects in children. Development of a Web-based Integrated Birth Defects Surveillance system in New York State. Wang, Y., Tao, Z., Steen, P.M., Cross, P.K., Druschel, C.M. Hwang, S.-A. Journal of Public Health Management & Practice. 14(6): E1-E10. 2008.