"The Birth Defect Litigation Awards: The Best Worst And Weirdest Things We ve Seen

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with a birth defect it could have a devastating effect on you and your family. The cost of therapy, medical bills and other losses can quickly become a burden.

A Hyattsville birth defect lawyer can help you file an appeal to receive reimbursement for the costs of taking care of your disabled child. Legal claims for birth defects can be a little tangled, so it is important to seek legal advice immediately.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals are required to follow a standard when treating pregnant women or their infants. Doctors can be held liable for damages if their actions result in birth defects or injuries. A DC lawyer with experience in birth defect lawsuits can assist you in determining the cause of your child's illness. caused by a medical error during pregnancy or during delivery.

A doctor may also be held responsible for birth injuries if they fail recognize fetal distress and don't respond appropriately. This can lead to a range of serious complications, including hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and brain injuries, such as cerebral palsy.

The distinction between a birth defect and a birth injury is that defects are part of a person's genetic make-up and injuries are caused due to something happening during labor, pregnancy or birth. Injuries can be caused by Erb's palsy, where the nerves controlling the infant's arms and limbs are stretched or torn. Another form of injury is caput succedaneum - an inflammation of the scalp. Both of them can result in permanent disability and require ongoing treatment, resulting in large medical expenses. A Washington, DC lawyer who specializes in birth defects can offer a free consultation to review your case, and determine the best course of action for you and your baby.

Prescription Drugs

An attorney for birth defects may be able help parents determine the cause for the birth injury of a child. While many birth defects are due to genetics and the factors that influence the mother's pregnancy however, they may also occur as a result of medications. Many common medications can have negative effects on fetuses. This is particularly true in the first three months of pregnancy. This includes anti-nausea medication, NSAIDs, chemotherapy medications as well as certain antibiotics, and more. These drugs have been found to increase the risk of developing limb and heart defects, brain deformities, and craniosynostois.

The duty of a doctor is to be aware of these risks when prescribing medication for pregnant women. If doctors do not follow this standard of care, they may be held liable for malpractice. Pharma companies can also be held responsible for not adequately inform mothers of the risks of their medication. Zofran is a drug used to treat nausea in cancer patients, has been shown to increase the risk of major defects during the first trimester pregnancies.

A birth defect lawyer can assist families get compensation for future and current medical expenses resulting from the injury or disability, as well as loss of income and quality of life. This can include hospital costs as well as doctor's fees, pharmaceutical costs and other costs, as well as assistive devices and therapy.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer may bring a lawsuit on behalf of families of children who suffer from congenital disabilities as a result from the negligence of companies which expose pregnant women and medications that cause birth defects. They are trained to find out what caused the birth defect in order to bring a lawsuit against the companies who expose mothers to teratogens when they are working or in their home.

Metals, fungicides and herbicides as well as pesticides are just a few of the chemicals that can cause birth defects. They are referred to as teratogens due to their impact on the development of the fetus through creating chemical changes that hinder normal cell function or create organs that are malformed. These chemicals are used in a variety of settings including semiconductor manufacturing, metal cleaning and paint production.

Other chemicals that may cause birth defects are the aliphatic hydrocarbons like dichloroethane and trichloroethylene perchloroethylene. 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 in order to make companies accountable for the families of soldiers in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, to harmful chemicals. Some of the birth defect lawyers have obtained substantial settlements on behalf of families who had their children born with serious defects as a result of exposure to toxic chemicals at 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 suspects that the birth defect of their child may be a result of medical negligence, prescription drug overdose or Birth Defect Lawsuits exposure to toxic chemicals, they should consult an DC birth injury lawyer to discuss the issue.

Chemicals and other pollutants in the environment can cause serious birth defects when they are inhaled or taken in by pregnant women. Teratogens are the names given to these chemicals. More than 4 million chemicals are found in our food, air and water. Certain of these chemicals could be harmful to pregnant women.

For example, arsenic in drinking water as well as cadmium derived from coal that has been contaminated can trigger numerous birth defects as well as other health issues. Certain birth defects are also caused by industrial solvents such as benzene (a metal degreaser), toluene (a solvent for plastics) and trichloroethylene. Glycol-ethers also increase the risk of birth defects among women. These chemicals are used for the manufacture of semiconductors display devices, silicon chip displays and video displays.

LK's experienced birth defect attorneys have brought many lawsuits on behalf of children suffering from a myriad of birth defects caused by wrongful toxic and chemical exposure at workplaces or at home. These lawsuits often involve complicated scientific analysis and expert witnesses, including toxicologists or epidemiologists, geneticists embryologists and occupational medicine experts.