Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with an anomaly in the birth it could have a devastating effect on you and your family. The cost of therapy, medical bills and other losses can add up quickly.

A Hyattsville lawyer with a specialization in birth defects may be able to help you claim reimbursement for the expenses of caring for your children with disabilities. A legal claim for birth defects may be complicated, which is why you should consult with a legal professional as soon as you can.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must adhere to a set of guidelines when treating pregnant women and their infants. A doctor can be held accountable for any damages if their actions result in birth defects or injuries. A DC lawyer who has expertise in lawsuits for birth defects can determine whether your child's health issue was caused by a medical error during the pregnancy or delivery.

A doctor could also be held accountable for birth injuries if they fail to identify fetal distress, or fail to respond appropriately. This can lead to a range of serious issues, such as hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and brain injuries like cerebral palsy.

The difference between a birth defect and a birth injury is that defects are part of a person's genetic make-up however, injuries are caused by something that happens during labor, pregnancy or birth. Injuries can result from conditions like Erb's Palsy which develops when the nerves which energize and control the arms of a newborn are stretched or torn during the birth process and firms caput succedaneum, an increase in the size of the scalp. Both of them can result in permanent disability and require ongoing treatment, resulting in hefty medical costs. A Washington, DC lawyer who is specialized in birth defects will offer a free consultation to analyze your case and determine the best course of action for you and your baby.

Prescription Drugs

An attorney for birth defects may be able to assist parents in determining the root cause of an infant's birth injury. While many birth defects are the result of genetics and factors during the mother's pregnancy however, they may also occur as a result of medications. Certain common medications have a significant effect on fetuses, especially in the first trimester of a pregnancy. Anti-nausea drugs, NSAIDs, and chemotherapy medications are among the most popular. These drugs have been linked to an increased risk of deformities in the limbs and heart defects, brain defects and craniosynostois.

It is a doctor's professional duty to take into consideration the potential risks when prescribing medications for pregnant women. If doctors do not meet the requirements of this standard of care, they could be held liable for medical malpractice. Pharma companies may also be held responsible for not adequately inform mothers of the risks associated with their medications. Zofran is a drug used to treat nausea among cancer patients, has been shown to increase the risk of major defects during the first trimester pregnancies.

A birth defect lawyer can help families receive reimbursement for future and ongoing medical expenses related to the injury or disability, and also loss of earnings and the quality of life. This can include hospital, doctor's or pharmaceutical expenses, as well as aidive devices and treatments.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer can bring an action on behalf families of children with congenital disabilities resulting from the negligence of businesses which expose pregnant women to chemicals or drugs that cause birth defects. They are trained to determine the root of birth defects, so that they can bring a suit against companies who expose pregnant women to teratogens either at workplace or at home.

Some of the chemical exposures that lead to birth defects include the fungicides, metals, herbicides and other pesticides. These chemicals are referred to as Teratogens since they interfere with the normal development of a fetus through chemical changes that cause abnormal organs or block normal cell function. These chemicals are found in many different settings, including manufacturing of semiconductors, metal cleaning and paint production.

Other chemicals that may cause birth defects are aliphatic hydrocarbons, such as trichloroethylene perchloroethylene or dichloroethane. These chemicals have been found to cause birth problems, including cardiac defects, in babies born to mothers who were exposed to them while in the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits against several firms that were responsible for exposing the families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune to these harmful chemicals. Some of the birth defect lawyers have obtained significant settlements on behalf of families whose children were born with severe defects because of exposure to toxic chemicals at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Some birth defects can be caused by an unintended medical error and environmental factors or chemicals. If a family suspects that the birth defects of a child could be the result of medical negligence, prescription drug overdose, or exposure to harmful chemical such as benzene, they should seek out a DC birth injury attorney to discuss their case.

Chemicals and other pollutants in the environment can cause serious birth defects when they are inhaled or absorbed by pregnant women. These chemicals are referred to as Teratogens. Over 4 million chemicals exist in our air, food and water and a few can be harmful if they come into contact with a woman who is pregnant.

For instance, arsenic from drinking water as well as cadmium derived from coal that is contaminated can cause a variety of birth defects as well as other health problems. Industrial solvents, such as benzene toluene and trichloroethylene (a metal degreaser) are also linked with certain birth defects. Glycol-ethers are also known to increase the chance of birth defects in women. These chemicals are used for the manufacture of semiconductors display panels, silicon chip displays, and video displays.

LK's highly experienced birth defect lawyers have brought numerous lawsuits on behalf of children who suffered from a variety of birth defects as a result of unintentional exposure to toxic chemicals and chemicals at workplaces or at home. These lawsuits typically involve sophisticated scientific analysis and experts as witnesses, like toxicologists, epidemiologists, geneticists, occupational medicine specialists and embryologists.