Why People Don t Care About Birth Defect Litigation

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. Therapy costs, medical bills and other losses can add up quickly.

A Hyattsville lawyer that specializes in birth defects can help you seek reimbursement for the expenses of caring for your child with disabilities. A legal claim for birth defects could be complex, so you should consult a lawyer whenever you can.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must follow a standard of care when treating pregnant women and their infants. If a doctor's actions fall below this standard and cause birth defects or injuries the doctor could be held liable for the injuries suffered by their patient. A DC lawyer who is experienced in lawsuits involving birth defects can assist you in determining whether your child's illness could have been caused by an error made by a doctor during the pregnancy or delivery.

A doctor may be held accountable for birth injuries if they fail identify fetal distress, or don't respond appropriately. This could lead to many serious problems like hypoxic-ischemic brain injury and hypoxic encephalopathy like cerebral palsy.

The difference between birth defects and birth injury is that defects are part of a person's genetic make-up and injuries are caused due to something happening during labor, pregnancy, or the birth. These injuries can be caused by conditions like Erb's Palsy which is caused when the nerves which energize and control an infant's arms are stretched or ruptured during birth as well as caput succedaneum which is a swelling of the scalp. Both of them can lead to lifelong disability and require ongoing treatment, which can result in large medical expenses. A Washington, DC lawyer who specializes in birth defects can provide a no-cost consultation to review your case, and determine the most appropriate course for you and your baby.

Prescription Drugs

An attorney for birth defects may be able help parents determine the root of the birth injury of a child. While many birth defects are the result of genetics and factors during the mother's pregnancy however, they can also be caused as a result of medication. A variety of common medications can have a profound effect on fetuses, especially in the first trimester of pregnancy. Anti-nausea medicines, NSAIDs and chemotherapy medications are among the most common. These drugs have been linked to an increased risk of limb deformities and brain defects, heart defects and craniosynostois.

A doctor's responsibility is to take into consideration these risks when prescribing medication for women who are pregnant. If doctors do not follow this standard of care, then they could be held accountable for negligence. Pharmaceutical companies can be held accountable for not properly warning mothers of the risks associated with their drugs. Zofran is a medication used to treat nausea among cancer patients, has been shown to increase the risk of major defects occurring in first-trimester pregnancy.

An attorney for birth defects can help a family get compensation for medical expenses, loss of income and quality of life. This could include hospital costs physician's fees, pharmaceutical costs, and other expenses, as well as assistive devices and therapy.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer may bring a lawsuit on behalf families of children with congenital disabilities resulting from the negligence of businesses which expose pregnant women to 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 who expose pregnant women to teratogens either at work or in their home.

Some of the chemical exposures that lead to birth defects are herbicides, fungicides, metals and other pesticides. These chemicals are known as teratogens because they affect the healthy development of the fetus through producing chemical changes that block normal cell function, or can cause organs that are not properly formed. These chemicals are present in many different settings, including manufacturing of semiconductors, cleaning of metals and paint production.

Other hazardous chemicals that could cause birth defects are aliphatic chlorinated hydrocarbons, such as trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene and dichloroethane. These chemicals are known to cause cardiac birth defects in babies born to mothers exposed during their time in the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits in order to make companies accountable for the families of soldiers in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina exposed to harmful chemicals. Some of these birth defect lawyers have gotten significant settlements on behalf of families who had their children born with severe birth defects because of the toxic chemical exposures at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Some birth defects can be caused by an unintended medical error and environmental conditions or chemicals. If a family suspects a child's birth defects may be due to medical negligence, prescription drug overdose, or exposure to harmful chemicals, they should consult an DC birth injury lawyer to discuss their case.

Chemicals and other substances in the environment can cause serious birth defects when they are consumed or taken in by pregnant women. These substances are known as teratogens. Over 4 million chemicals exist in our air, food and water Some of them can be harmful when they come into contact with pregnant women.

For instance, arsenic from drinking water, and cadmium from coal that is contaminated may cause a variety of birth defect law firms defects and health issues. Industrial solvents like trichloroethylene, benzene, and toluene (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 as well as silicon chip displays and video displays.

LK's highly experienced birth defect lawyers have brought numerous lawsuits on behalf of children who have suffered from a wide range of birth defects due to unintentional exposure to toxic chemicals and chemicals at work or at home. These lawsuits usually involve a an extensive scientific analysis as well as experts, such as toxicologists or epidemiologists, geneticists occupational medicine experts and embryologists.