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Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with an anomaly in the birth this can be devastating for you and your family. Therapy costs, medical bills and other expenses can add up quickly.

A Hyattsville lawyer with a specialization in birth defects can help to file a claim for compensation for the costs of caring for your disabled children. A legal claim for birth defects can be complex, so you should seek legal advice as soon as possible.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must adhere to a certain standard when treating pregnant women or their infants. A doctor could be held accountable for damages when their actions cause birth defects or injuries. A DC lawyer with experience in birth defect lawsuits can help you determine whether your child's illness could be the result of an error made by the medical professional during pregnancy or during delivery.

A doctor could be liable for an injury that occurs during birth if they fail to diagnose or Birth defect lawsuits respond adequately to fetal distress. This can cause a number of serious problems, including hypoxic ischemic brain injury (HIE) and brain injuries like cerebral palsy.

Birth injuries differ from birth defects in that they are caused by circumstances during pregnancy, delivery, or labor. The most common injuries are Erb's Palsy, where the nerves controlling the infant's arms and limbs are stretched or torn. Another form of injury is the caput succedaneum, a swelling on the scalp. Both of them can cause permanent disability and require ongoing treatment, resulting in large medical expenses. A Washington, DC birth defect lawyer can provide a free initial consultation to analyze your case and determine the best course of action for you and your child.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer might be able to help parents identify the root of a child's birth injury or defect. While many birth defects are caused by genetics and other factors that occur during the mother's pregnancy however, they can also be caused as a result of medication. A number of commonly used medications have a significant impact on fetuses especially during the first trimester of pregnancy. This includes anti-nausea medication and NSAIDs as well as chemotherapy medications, certain antibiotics, and more. These medications have been linked to a higher risk of limb deformities and heart defects, brain deformities and craniosynostosis.

It is the responsibility of a doctor to consider these risks when prescribing medications for women who are pregnant. If doctors do not adhere to this standard of care, they may be held liable for malpractice. Pharma companies may also be held accountable for not properly informing mothers about the risks associated with their medications. For example, Zofran, a medication used to treat nausea in cancer patients, has been shown to significantly increase the risk of major congenital problems in the first trimester of pregnancy.

A birth defect lawyer can assist a family in obtaining compensation for medical expenses, income loss and the quality of life. This can include doctor's, hospital prescription, pharmaceutical, and other costs, as well as assistive devices and treatments.

Chemical Exposure

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

Some of the chemical exposures that lead to birth defects are the use of fungicides and metals as well as herbicides and other pesticides. These chemicals are referred to as Teratogens because they affect the healthy development a the fetus via chemical changes that can cause abnormal organs, or disrupt normal cell function. These chemicals are used in many different settings, including semiconductor manufacturing, metal cleaning and paint production.

Other chemicals that may cause birth defects include aliphatic hydrocarbons, such as dichloroethane, trichloroethylene, or perchloroethylene. 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 various companies that were involved in the exposure of families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune to these harmful chemicals. Some of the birth defect lawyers have won substantial settlements on behalf families who had their children born with severe birth defects because of exposure to toxic chemicals at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Certain birth defects can be caused by a combination of medical negligence and environmental conditions or chemical. If a family suspects the birth defects of a child may be the result of medical negligence or prescription drug overdose or exposure to harmful chemicals, they should consult a DC birth injury attorney to discuss their case.

If pregnant women consume or absorb contaminants from the environment, they can cause serious birth defects. These chemicals are referred to as teratogens. More than 4 million chemicals are found in our food, air and water. Some of these chemicals could be harmful to pregnant women.

Arsenic found in drinking water or cadmium in coal that has been contaminated for instance, can cause birth defects as well as other health problems. Industrial solvents, such as trichloroethylene, benzene, and toluene (a metal degreaser) are also linked to certain birth defects. Glycol-ethers are also known to increase the likelihood of birth defects occurring in women. These chemicals are used in the production of semiconductors display devices, silicon chip displays and video displays.

LK's highly experienced birth defect lawyers have filed numerous lawsuits on behalf of children who suffer from a myriad of birth defects caused by wrongful toxic and chemical exposure at workplaces or in their homes. These lawsuits involve complex scientific analyses and expert witnesses, such as toxicologists and epidemiologists.