10 Facts About Birth Defect Litigation That Will Instantly Bring You To A Happy Mood
Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer If your child was born with a birth defect, it can be devastating for you and your family. Therapy costs, medical bills and other expenses can add up quickly. A Hyattsville lawyer who is specialized in birth defects can help to file a claim for reimbursement for the expenses of caring for your children with disabilities. birth defect attorneys kansas for birth defects are complicated and therefore it is crucial to seek legal advice immediately. Medical Malpractice Medical professionals are required to adhere to a set of standards when treating pregnant women or their infants. If a doctor's actions are not in line with this standard and cause birth defects or injuries the doctor could be held accountable for the damage suffered by their patient. A DC lawyer with expertise in lawsuits for birth defects can determine whether your child's condition was caused by a medical error during pregnancy or the birth. A doctor can also be held responsible for birth injuries if they fail to detect fetal distress or do not respond appropriately. This could lead to a variety of serious complications, including hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and brain injuries like cerebral palsy. The distinction between a birth defect and a birth injury is that defects are a part of a person's genetic make-up and injuries are caused by something that happens during labor, pregnancy or during delivery. Injuries can include issues like Erb's syndrome which is caused when the nerves that power and control the arms of an infant are stretched or damaged during birth and the caput succedaneum is a swelling of the scalp. Both of them can cause permanent disability and require ongoing treatment, resulting in large medical bills. A Washington, DC birth defect lawyer can provide a free initial consultation to analyze your situation and determine the best course of action for you and your child. Prescription Drugs A birth defect attorney may help parents determine the reason behind the birth injury of a child. Many birth defects result from the genetics of the baby or other factors during pregnancy. However, medications can also cause birth defects. A number of commonly used medications have a profound effect on fetuses and babies, particularly during the first trimester of a pregnancy. These include anti-nausea drugs, NSAIDs, chemotherapy drugs such as certain antibiotics and more. These drugs have been linked to an increased risk of deformities in the limbs and heart defects, brain defects and craniosynostosis. A doctor's duty is to consider these risks when prescribing medication for women who are pregnant. If doctors do not meet the standards of care required, they could be liable for medical negligence. Pharma companies can also be held responsible for not adequately informing mothers of the risks associated with their medication. Zofran is a medication used to treat nausea among cancer patients, was shown to increase the risk of major defects during the first trimester pregnancies. A birth defect lawyer can assist a family in obtaining compensation for medical expenses, income loss and quality of living. This could include hospital fees, doctor's fees, pharmaceutical costs, and other expenses, in addition to assistive devices, and therapy. Chemical Exposure A birth defect lawyer can file a lawsuit on behalf of families of children with congenital disabilities resulting from the negligence of businesses 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 that they can bring a suit against companies who expose pregnant women to teratogens either at work or in their home. Some of the chemical exposures that can lead to birth defects are the fungicides, metals, herbicides and other pesticides. These chemicals are referred to as teratogens because they affect the development of the fetus by producing chemical changes that block normal cell function or create organs that are malformed. These chemicals are used in a variety of environments, including processing of semiconductors and metal cleaning.
Other chemicals that can cause birth defects are aliphatic chlorinated hydrocarbons such as perchloroethylene (trichloroethylene), trichloroethylene ( dichloroethane. These chemicals have been proven to cause cardiac birth defects in babies born to mothers who were exposed while they were in the womb. Parents have filed lawsuits to expose companies to liability for the families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, to harmful chemicals. Some of these birth defect lawyers have secured significant settlements for families who have children who were born with severe defects due to the exposure to toxic chemicals on the base. Environmental Exposure Some birth defects are caused by the combination of medical negligence as well as environmental conditions or chemicals. If a family believes that their child's birth defect may be due to medical malpractice, prescription drug overdose or exposure to harmful chemicals, they should speak with an DC birth injury lawyer to discuss the issue. Chemicals and other contaminants in the environment can cause serious birth defects when they are inhaled or absorbed by pregnant women. Teratogens are the names given to these substances. More than 4 million chemicals are present in our air, food and water Some of them are harmful if they come into contact with a woman who is pregnant. For instance, arsenic from drinking water, and cadmium from contaminated coal can cause various birth defects as well as other health problems. Industrial solvents such as trichloroethylene, toluene, and benzene (a metal degreaser) are also associated with certain birth defects. Glycol-ethers are also known for their ability to increase the likelihood of birth defects occurring in women. These chemicals are used to make semiconductors display devices, silicon chip displays and video displays. Our experienced attorneys for birth defects have filed numerous lawsuits in behalf of children who suffered from a variety of birth defects as a result of accidental exposure to toxic chemicals or chemicals at work or at home. These lawsuits typically involve complex scientific analysis and experts as witnesses, like toxicologists, epidemiologists, geneticists, occupational medicine experts, and embryologists.