Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with an anomaly in the birth, it can have a devastating effect on you and your family. Medical bills, therapy costs and other losses can quickly become a burden.

A Hyattsville lawyer that specializes in birth defects can help you file for compensation for the cost of caring for your child with disabilities. A legal claim for birth defects could be complicated, which is why you should consult with a legal professional as soon as you can.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must adhere to an appropriate standard of care when treating pregnant women and their babies. When a doctor's actions fall below this standard and cause birth defects or injuries and/or death, they may be held liable for the harms suffered by their patient. A DC lawyer who has experience in lawsuits involving birth defects can assist you in determining whether your child's condition may have been caused by an error made by the medical professional during pregnancy or the birth.

A doctor could also be held responsible for birth injuries if they fail to recognize fetal distress and fail to respond appropriately. This can cause various serious problems, including hypoxic-ischemic neuropathy and brain injuries such as cerebral palsy.

The difference between birth defects and birth injury is that defects are part of a person's genetic makeup however, injuries are caused by something that happens during labor, pregnancy or during delivery. The most common injuries are Erb's Palsy, where the nerves controlling the infant's arms and legs are stretched or torn. Another type of injury is the caput succedaneum, an inflammation of the scalp. Both of them can cause permanent disability and ongoing treatment will cost lots of money. A Washington, DC lawyer who specializes in birth defects can provide a no-cost consultation to look over your case and determine the most appropriate course for you and your baby.

Prescription Drugs

An attorney for birth defects may help parents determine the cause for a child's birth defect law firms defect. While many birth defects are due to genetics and the factors that influence a mother's pregnancy however, they can also be caused as a result of medications. Many commonly used medications can have a negative impact on fetuses. This is particularly relevant in the first three months of pregnancy. This includes anti-nausea medication, NSAIDs, chemotherapy medications such as certain antibiotics and many more. These drugs have been proven to increase the risk of limb and brain deformities, heart defects, and craniosynostosis.

It is the responsibility of a doctor to be aware of these risks when prescribing medications for women who are pregnant. If doctors fail to meet this standard of care they could be liable for medical negligence. Pharma companies could also be held accountable for not properly inform mothers of the risks that come with their medication. Zofran is a drug used to treat nausea in cancer patients, was found to increase the risk of major defects in first-trimester pregnancy.

An attorney for birth defects can assist a family in obtaining compensation for medical expenses, income loss and the quality of life. This can include doctor's, hospital, pharmaceutical, and other expenses, as well as aidive devices and therapies.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer can file a lawsuit on behalf of families of children who suffer from congenital disabilities that result from the negligence of companies that expose pregnant women chemicals or drugs that cause birth defects. These lawyers are specially-trained to identify the cause of the birth defects so that they can bring a lawsuit against companies that expose pregnant women to teratogens either at workplace or at home.

Some of the chemical exposures that contribute to birth defects are herbicides, fungicides, metals and other pesticides. These chemicals are known as teratogens due to their impact on the development of the fetus by producing chemical changes that block normal cell function, or can cause organs that are not properly formed. These chemicals can be found in many different situations, such as metal cleaning and semiconductor manufacturing.

Other harmful chemicals that could cause birth defects include aliphatic cyaninated hydrocarbons such as trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene and dichloroethane. These chemicals are known to cause cardiac birth defects in babies born to mothers who were exposed in the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits against a variety of companies who were responsible for the exposure of families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune to these harmful chemicals. Some of the birth defect lawyers have secured substantial settlements on behalf of families who had their children born with severe birth defects because of exposure to toxic chemicals at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Some birth defects are caused by the combination of medical negligence and environmental factors or chemicals. If a family suspects a child's birth defects may be the result of medical negligence, prescription drug overdose, or exposure to harmful chemical or chemical substances, they should speak with a DC birth injury attorney to discuss their case.

Chemicals and other toxins in the environment can cause serious birth defects when they are consumed by or taken in by pregnant women. Teratogens are the name for these substances. More than 4 million chemicals can be found in our food, air and water. Some of these chemicals are harmful to pregnant women.

For instance, arsenic found in drinking water as well as cadmium derived from coal that has been contaminated can trigger numerous birth defects, as well as other health issues. Industrial solvents, such as benzene, toluene and trichloroethylene (a metal degreaser) are also associated with certain birth defects. Glycol-ethers also increase the risk of birth defects in women. These chemicals are used to make semiconductors display devices, silicon chip displays and video displays.

LK's experienced birth defect attorneys have brought numerous lawsuits on behalf of children suffering from a variety of birth defects as a result of improper exposure to chemicals and toxic substances at work or at home. These lawsuits often involve an extensive scientific analysis as well as experts as witnesses, like toxicologists as well as epidemiologists, geneticists occupational medicine experts and embryologists.