Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Attorney

The joy of being a parent can turn into a harrowing event when you learn that your child was born with a birth defect. Most birth defects require lifetime medical care. This can result in enormous financial costs.

A New York birth defect attorney can determine whether your child's condition was caused by negligence in the medical field or hazardous chemicals or drugs.

Causes of Birth Defects

If your child is suffering from an anomaly in their birth that could have been avoided by an medical professional, you should contact an Long Island birth defects attorney as soon as possible. A reputable attorney can manage the preceding step quickly and efficiently, so you can grieve the loss of a loved one.

Birth defects are functional or structural changes in the body of a fetus that can impact almost any body part. They can cause physical issues or developmental and intellectual disabilities, such as trouble in communicating or learning or with physical activities such as walking or taking care of oneself.

Certain birth defects can be identified before the baby is born using special tests, for example, analysing cells in a blood sample or by examining samples of amniotic fluid or the placenta. Increasingly, doctors can also diagnose birth defects through ultrasound of the fetus or magnetic resonance imaging.

Certain birth defects are caused by genetic causes like abnormalities in a fetus's chromosomes or genes. These genetic defects can be passed on by parents or through mutations that occur in the DNA of the fetus at conception. A few of the more common genetic birth defects include trisomy 21, spina Bifida and Tay Sachs disease. Many other genetic birth defects have no known cause at all.

Medical Malpractice

You could be able to file a claim against the doctor for medical malpractice in the event that you or your child was injured as a result of a mistake made by the health professional. This includes failures to recognize the problem, for example, the doctor does not consider your symptoms seriously, gives an incorrect diagnosis, does not begin the appropriate treatment or fails to follow-up with test results. It could also involve mistakes with medication, like the wrong diagnosis of anesthesia, prescribing too much medication or the wrong type of medications, and surgical mistakes.

Finding a lawyer who has experience in malpractice cases may be difficult. But you can request recommendations from family members and close friends and attorneys in other areas. You can also reach out to your state bar association. Most bar associations have search/referral tools that can help you locate an experienced medical malpractice lawyer.

Chemical Exposure

Birth problems are often caused by chemicals that harm the mother or fetus. A lot of these chemicals can be present in the workplace where they are used in the production of products like plastics, paint, batteries and ceramic glazes. These chemicals can be ingested or inhaled, or absorbed by the body's skin. Certain of these toxins have been proven to increase the likelihood of children developing a birth defect, such as spina-bifida and other psychological and physical disorders.

These teratogens are found in medications that doctors have not properly prescribed, in the use of chemicals at work such as those in semiconductor "clean rooms" or in toxic substances which contaminate air and water. The Thornton Law Firm has represented many parents whose children were born with serious birth defect lawyers defects because the mothers were exposed to glycol ethers or coal ash, as well as pesticides at the place of work.

If you believe your child's birth defect was caused by negligence in the medical field, a dangerous medication or toxic exposure during pregnancy, call an experienced New York birth injury attorney to arrange a free case strategy session today. These claims are subject to the strictest time limit and are time-sensitive. An experienced attorney can determine if the child is eligible to file claims, and if it should be filed through the court system or through a settlement agreement.

Product Liability

Many birth defects are due to an incorrect prescription or exposure to chemicals. It is crucial for parents to contact an attorney for birth defects immediately when they suspect that their child's condition was caused by negligence in the medical field or exposure to dangerous drugs. These cases are often complicated and extremely time-sensitive.

Medical malpractice cases usually involve the cause of a birth defect due to environmental factors, including exposure to environmental chemicals and prescriptions for improperly administered drugs or inadequate prenatal care. It is essential for families to seek legal help as soon as possible, because the time limit for a medical malpractice claim is set at one year.

Medication birth defect lawsuits can also be brought in instances where the doctor was negligent when prescribing medications to the mother, for example in not understanding the way in which a certain drug could interact with other medications the mother may be taking, or by not adequately advising her of the side effects. A Maryland lawyer who specializes in medical birth defects will assist clients to recover damages when a doctor causes a birth defect or injury due to acting negligently.

A family with a baby with a severe birth defect could be required to pay for a hefty amount of surgical, medical, and therapy throughout the child's lifetime. A knowledgeable and experienced birth defect attorney can help parents determine if their child's medical issue was the result of medical negligence, a dangerous drug or toxic exposure.