Why You Should Forget About Enhancing Your Birth Defect Attorney

What Causes a birth defect lawyer Defect?

It's the last thing any expecting parent would like to hear: Their child could be born with a birth defect. These birth defects are caused by things that occur in the fetal period and can affect your child's physical or mental health.

A medical professional can identify birth defects in pregnancy through newborn screening or prenatal tests. However, other birth defects may not be identified until after your child's birth or a few years later when they show symptoms.

What is the reason for your child's defect?

The reason for many birth defects remains unknown. However there are several factors that can increase the likelihood of having a child with defects. These include using prescription drugs or taking certain medications prior to pregnancy, having a family member with birth defects or certain medical conditions, for instance rheumatic heart disease. Women who have an history of these conditions should speak with an expert in genetic counseling about their options prior getting pregnant.

The degree to which a birth defect can cause serious health issues or not is dependent on the body part that is affected and the extent of the body part is affected. The more severe the birth defect, the more serious the problems.

Most birth defects are caused by genetics or the environment during the development of the fetus. The chance of developing birth defects can be decreased by educating yourself about your family's history of health issues and genes or talking to an expert on genetics and following prenatal care guidelines.

Structural defects are birth problems that affect the way the body looks or functions. They may be visible, like cleft lips or cleft palettes, or invisible, like chromosome conditions or metabolic conditions. Genetically-inherited conditions can result in structural birth defects. Environmental factors, such as the lack of folic acids, can cause neural tube defects that lead to the development of the spinal cord and brain not functioning properly.

Gather More Evidence Than You Think

There are a variety of medical procedures a pregnant mother is able to undergo in order to find out more about the possibility of birth defects. Amniocentesis is a prime example, where a healthcare provider takes tiny amounts of fluid from the fetus to conduct analysis. This procedure can reveal chromosomal defects as well as other health issues like infections (such as Zika or rubella) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor may also test the blood of a fetus amniotic fluid, fetal blood and the tissues of its umbilical cord for signs of birth defects. These tests are essential to finding out the reason for birth defects. They can also determine the severity of birth defect and its effect on the adult life of a child.

However, some birth defects can be missed until a baby is born, or in rare cases, as an adult. These problems aren't visible when they occur and are often only discovered with diagnostic equipment. In these cases the medical expert witness must be knowledgeable with the techniques and the knowledge and experience required to be able identify these flaws. A seasoned medical malpractice lawyer is able to determine the appropriate specialist for your particular case.

Hire a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

If a child is born with a serious birth defect or suffers from a severe birth injury, it can completely turn the world of a family upside down. These injuries can cause long-lasting physical and emotional problems which often require ongoing medical treatment.

While medical science can identify the causes of 30 percent of birth defects, others remain unsolved. Studies have shown that certain chemicals and substances can cause birth defects, including those that are found in prescription and over-the-counter medications a mother takes as well as the toxic chemicals that play in certain communities and birth defects homes, as well as contaminated air and groundwater.

Doctors have a duty to assess an expectant mother's current medications, and advise her about any risks for the embryo. If they fail to fulfill this obligation, they can be held accountable for birth defects caused by medication.

Doctors are also required to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of any procedure or device they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x ray machines, surgical instruments, and other equipment. This could have serious consequences for a baby's health should a doctor use the equipment in error or does not calibrate it properly. This is considered medical malpractice. It's important to contact a medical malpractice lawyer as soon as you can if this happens. In some states, you're only given one year to file a medical malpractice case, so the earlier you start the process the more favorable.

Step 1. Step

Birth defects affect 1 in 33 babies born each year, and are a major cause of infant mortality. These issues are life-threatening, and can trigger long-term physical, mental and emotional problems. Scientists have, in some instances, identified the causes of birth defects due to exposure of the mother to prescription and non-prescription drugs and environmental toxins, complications of motherhood, infections, delivery and pregnancy or a family medical history or genetic illnesses (like sickle cell disease, PKU, or genetic diseases). But in about 70% of birth defects cases the cause is unknown.

Some birth defects, like clubfoot or hearing loss, are easy to spot and can be diagnosed from birth or within the first year of a child's existence. Other birth defects, such as heart defects or developmental and intellectual disabilities aren't as easily identifiable and require special tests.

Researchers are attempting to determine the causes of birth defects and how some of these can be avoided. For example smoking, drink alcohol or take illegal drugs during pregnancy increase their chance of having a baby with certain birth defects. Women who have a family history of inheritance genetic disorders should think about seeing a genetic counselor before trying to get pregnant. They should also fill out the March of Dimes family health record form to gather information about medical conditions that can be found in their families and provide it to their doctor or genetic counselor.