Why Nobody Cares About Birth Defect Litigation

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with a birth defect this can cause a lot of grief for the entire family. Medical bills, therapy costs and other losses can quickly increase.

A Hyattsville birth defect lawyer could help you file claim for compensation for the cost of taking care of your child with disabilities. Legal claims for birth defects are complex and therefore it is crucial to seek legal advice whenever you can.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must adhere to a standard of care when treating pregnant women or their infants. When a doctor's actions are not in line with this standard and result in an injury or birth defect or injury, they could be held responsible for damages sustained by their patient. A DC lawyer with expertise in lawsuits for birth defects can help determine whether your child's condition was caused by a medical error during pregnancy or delivery.

A doctor may also be held accountable for birth injuries if they fail diagnose fetal distress or are unable to respond in a timely manner. This can result in numerous serious issues, including hypoxic-ischemic neuropathy and brain injuries such as cerebral palsy.

Birth injuries differ from birth defects in the sense that they are caused by events during pregnancy, delivery or labor. A possible injury is Erb's spalsy which occurs when the nerves that control the infant's limbs and arms are stretched or torn. Another injury is called caput succedaneum. It's an increase in the size of the scalp. Both can result in a permanent disability, and ongoing treatment will cost a lot of money. A Washington, DC lawyer who is specialized in birth defects will provide a free consultation to examine 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 determine the reason behind an infant's birth defect law firm injury. Many birth defects are caused by genetics or factors during pregnancy. However, medications can also cause birth defects. A number of commonly used medications have a significant effect on fetuses and babies, particularly during the first trimester of a pregnancy. They include anti-nausea medicines, NSAIDs, chemotherapy medications such as certain antibiotics and many more. These drugs have been linked to a higher chance of limb deformities, brain defects, heart defects and craniosynostosis.

A doctor's job is to take into account the risks when prescribing medications for women who are pregnant. If doctors fail to adhere to the standards of care required, they may be liable for medical malpractice. Pharma companies can also be held responsible for not adequately informing mothers about the risks associated with their medication. Zofran, which is used to treat nausea among cancer patients, has been shown to increase the risk of major defects in the first trimester pregnancy.

An attorney who specializes in birth defects can assist a family to obtain compensation for medical expenses, income loss and quality of life. This can include doctor's, hospital prescription, pharmaceutical, and other expenses, as well assistive devices and therapies.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer may bring a lawsuit on behalf of families of children who have congenital disabilities because from the negligence of companies who expose pregnant women to chemicals and drugs that can cause birth deformities. These lawyers are specially-trained to determine the reason for birth defects so that they can bring a lawsuit against companies who expose pregnant women to teratogens either at work or at home.

Metals, fungicides, herbicides and pesticides are just a few of the chemicals that can cause birth defects. These chemicals are known as Teratogens since they interfere with the growth of the fetus causing chemical changes that prevent normal cell function or create malformed organs. These chemicals are found in many different situations, such as metal cleaning and semiconductor manufacturing.

Other chemicals that can cause birth defects include aliphatic cyaninated hydrocarbons such as perchloroethylene, trichloroethylene or dichloroethane. These chemicals are known to cause heart defects in babies born to mothers exposed while they were in the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits against several 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 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 a combination between medical negligence and environmental factors. If a family believes that the birth defect in their child could be due to medical negligence, prescription drug overdose or exposure to harmful chemicals, they should contact an DC birth injury lawyer to discuss the matter.

Chemicals and other substances in the environment can cause birth defects of a serious nature when they are consumed or absorbed by pregnant women. These chemicals are referred to as teratogens. More than 4 million chemicals are found in our air, food and water. Certain of these chemicals may be harmful to pregnant women.

Arsenic in drinking water or cadmium in coal that has been contaminated for instance, could cause birth defects and other health issues. Industrial solvents like trichloroethylene, toluene, and benzene (a metal degreaser) are also linked with certain birth defects. Glycol-ethers can increase the chance 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 many lawsuits on behalf of children suffering from a variety of birth defects as a result of unintentional exposure to toxic chemicals and chemicals at work or at home. These lawsuits usually involve a sophisticated scientific analysis and expert witnesses, such as toxicologists, epidemiologists, geneticists, occupational medicine specialists and embryologists.