Birth Defect Litigation Explained In Fewer Than 140 Characters

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with a birth defect it could be devastating for you and your family. Medical bills, therapy costs and other expenses can quickly mount up.

A Hyattsville birth defect lawyer can help you file an appeal to receive compensation for the expenses of taking care of your child with disabilities. 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 are required to follow a standard when treating pregnant women or their babies. If a doctor's actions fall below this standard and cause an injury or birth defect or injury, they could be held responsible for harms suffered by their patient. A DC lawyer with experience in birth defects lawsuits can determine whether your child's condition was caused by a medical mistake during pregnancy or during delivery.

A doctor could also be accountable for a birth injury when they fail to recognize or appropriately respond to distress of the fetus. This could lead to a variety of serious issues, such as hypoxic ischemic disorder (HIE) and brain injuries, such as cerebral palsy.

Birth injuries differ from birth defects in the sense that they are caused by circumstances during pregnancy, delivery, or labor. Injuries can include conditions like Erb's Palsy which develops when the nerves that energize and control the arms of a newborn are stretched or torn during birth as well as caput succedaneum which is an increase in the size of the scalp. Both can lead to a permanent disability, and continued treatment will cost a great deal of money. A Washington, DC lawyer who is skilled in birth defects can provide a free consultation to analyze your case and decide on the best course for you and your baby.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer might be able to help parents identify the cause of a child's birth injury or defect. Many birth defects result from the genetics of the baby or other factors during pregnancy. However, certain medications can also cause birth defects. Many common medications have a significant effect on fetuses, particularly in the first trimester of a pregnancy. Anti-nausea medications, NSAIDs and chemotherapy drugs are among the most frequently used. These medications have been linked to an increased risk of limb deformities and brain defects, heart defects and craniosynostois.

The duty of a doctor is to consider the risks when prescribing medications for pregnant women. If doctors do not meet the standards of care required, they may be liable for medical malpractice. Pharmaceutical companies can be held accountable for failing to adequately warn mothers about the risks associated with their drugs. For instance, Zofran, a medication used to treat nausea in cancer patients, has been shown to significantly increase the risk of major congenital defects in the first trimester of pregnancies.

A birth defect lawyer can help a family get compensation for medical expenses, loss of income and quality of living. This can include hospital, doctor's pharmaceutical, and other costs, as well as aidive devices and therapies.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer can file an action on behalf of the families of children suffering from congenital disabilities that result from the negligence of companies who expose pregnant women chemicals or drugs that cause birth defects. These lawyers are specially trained to discover the cause of the birth defect, so they can bring a lawsuit against companies who expose mothers to teratogens while they are working or in their homes.

Metals, fungicides herbicides and pesticides are a few chemicals that can cause birth defects. These chemicals are called teratogens, because they can interfere with the normal development of a embryo through chemical changes that lead to abnormal organs or hinder normal cell function. These chemicals can be found in many different settings, including manufacturing of semiconductors, cleaning of metals and paint production.

Other harmful chemicals that could cause birth defects are aliphatic chlorinated hydrocarbons, such as trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene and dichloroethane. These chemicals have been shown to cause birth defects, such as cardiac defects in babies born to mothers exposed to them in the womb.

Parents have filed suit against a number of companies involved in exposing the families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune to these harmful chemicals. Some of these birth defect lawyers have secured substantial settlements for families whose children were born with serious defects as a result of the exposure to toxic chemicals on the base.

Environmental Exposure

Some birth defects can be caused by a combination between medical negligence and environmental factors. If a family believes the birth defect of their child could be due to medical negligence, prescription drug abuse or exposure to harmful chemicals, they should consult an DC birth injury lawyer to discuss the issue.

Chemicals and other contaminants in the environment can cause serious birth defects if they are ingested or absorbed by pregnant women. These chemicals are referred to as teratogens. Over 4 million chemicals are found in our food, air and water and a few can be harmful when they come into contact with pregnant women.

For instance, arsenic found in drinking water, and cadmium from coal that is contaminated may cause numerous birth defects, as well as other health problems. Certain birth defects are also caused by industrial solvents such as benzene (a metal degreaser) and toluene (a solvent for plastics) and trichloroethylene. Glycol ethers, utilized in the production of silicon chips, semiconductors and video displays are well-known to increase the risk of birth defects too.

LK's experienced birth defect attorneys have brought many lawsuits on behalf of children who suffered from a range of birth defects resulting from improper exposure to chemicals and toxic substances at workplaces or at home. These lawsuits involve complicated scientific analyses and expert witnesses like toxicologists and epidemiologists.