Why No One Cares About Birth Defect Attorney
What Causes a Birth Defect?
The last thing a new parent wants to be told is that their child might have a birth defect. These birth defects are caused things that occur during fetal development and can affect your child's physical or mental health.
A medical professional is able to detect some birth defects during pregnancy using newborn screening or prenatal tests. However other birth defects might not be identified until after your child's birth or a few years later when they show symptoms.
What was the reason for your child's deformity?
Many birth defects remain undiscovered. There are some things that can increase the risk of pregnant women having children with birth defect. These include using drugs or taking certain medications prior to pregnancy, having a family member with birth defects or certain medical conditions, like rheumatic heart disease. Women who have an ancestry of these disorders should speak with an expert in genetic counseling about their options prior to becoming pregnant.
Whether a child's birth defect can cause serious health issues or not is dependent on which body part is affected and the extent of the body part affected. The more severe the birth defect, the more serious the problems.
Most birth defects are caused by genes or the environment during the fetal development. You can reduce the chance of developing a birth defect by speaking with a genetic counselor, learning about the health history of your family and having a conversation with an expert in genetics.
Structural defects are birth defects that affect the way an element of your body looks or performs. They may be visible, like cleft lips and Cleft palettes, but also invisible, such as chromosome disorders or metabolic conditions. Genetic disorders that are inherited are a type of structural birth defect and environmental factors like an absence of folic acids can cause neural tube defects that cause brain or spinal cord not developing correctly.
Get More Evidence than You Think You Can.
There are a variety of medical procedures a pregnant mother can undergo to learn more about the possibility of a birth defect. Amniocentesis is one of them, which involves a healthcare provider taking a small amount of fetal fluid for analysis. This procedure can reveal chromosomal modifications as well as other health conditions such as infections (such as rubella or Zika) or genetic disorders.
A doctor can examine the amniotic liquid, blood and fetus's tissues for indications of a birth defect. These tests are crucial in determining the cause of birth defects. They also help determine the degree of a birth defect law firms defect and its effect on a child's future.
However, some birth defects can be missed until a baby is born, or in rare instances, even as an adult. This is because these conditions are not detectable until they are present, and can sometimes only be recognized with the help of diagnostic equipment. In these instances the medical expert witness must be knowledgeable with the technology and have the knowledge and experience required to recognize these issues. A seasoned medical malpractice lawyer is able to determine the most appropriate expert for your case.
Employ an attorney for Medical Malpractice
If a child is born with a severe birth defect or suffers a devastating birth injury, it can completely turn a family's world upside down. These injuries can lead to lifelong physical and mental challenges that require medical attention for a lifetime.
Medical science can pinpoint the causes of 30% of birth defects, birth defect others remain unexplained. Research has revealed that certain chemicals and substances such as those in prescription or over the counter medicines taken by mothers and toxic chemicals found in communities and homes, or contaminated groundwater and air, can cause birth defects.
Doctors have a duty to review the pregnant mother's current medication and inform her of any potential dangers to the fetus. When they fail in this duty, they may be held responsible for birth defects that are caused by medications.
Doctors also have a responsibility to assess the safety of any procedure or device they recommend for pregnant women. This includes x-ray equipment, surgical instruments, and other equipment. If a doctor is negligent in using the equipment or fails properly calibrate the equipment, it could cause grave consequences for the baby. This would be considered malpractice. It's important to get in touch with a medical malfeasance lawyer as soon as you can if this happens. In some states, you have only a single year to file a medical negligence case, so the sooner you begin the process the better.
Take the First Step
Birth defects are the most common cause of infant mortality. They affect one in 33 babies each year. The condition can be life-threatening and can cause long-term physical, emotional and cognitive challenges. Researchers have in a few instances identified the causes of birth defects to the mother's exposures to prescription and over-the-counter drugs or environmental toxins, as well as maternal infections, complications during the birth and pregnancy and medical history of the family, or genetic illnesses (like sickle cell disease PKU, or other genetic diseases). In around 70% of cases, the reason is unknown.
Certain birth defect lawsuits defects are readily visible and can be detected at birth or within the first year. Other conditions, such as heart defects or developmental and intellectual disabilities, are not as easy to identify and require tests that are specific to the condition.
Researchers are trying to determine the causes of birth defects and how they can be avoided. Women who smoke, drink or take illegal drugs while pregnant increase their risk for having a child born with certain defects. Women with a family history involving genetic disorders inherited from their parents may want to consult a genetic counsellor prior to trying to be pregnant. They should also utilize the March of Dimes family health record form to gather information about medical conditions that can be found in their families and discuss it with their doctor or genetic counselor.