10 Things We All Hate About Birth Defect Litigation

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

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

A Hyattsville birth defect lawyer could help you file claim for reimbursement for the costs of caring for your disabled child. Legal claims for birth defects are complex, so it is important to seek legal advice immediately.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals are required to adhere to a certain standard when treating pregnant women or their babies. If the actions of a doctor do not meet the standards and result in a birth defect or injury, they can be held responsible for injuries suffered by their patient. A DC lawyer who is experienced in birth defect lawsuits can assist you in determining whether your child's condition could have been caused by an error made by the medical professional during pregnancy or the birth.

A doctor may be held accountable for birth injuries if they fail recognize fetal distress and are unable to respond in a timely manner. This can lead to a range of serious complications, including hypoxic ischemic disorder (HIE) and cerebral palsy.

The distinction between birth defects and birth injury is that defects are part of a person's genetic makeup however, injuries are caused by something occurring during labor, pregnancy, or Birth defect lawsuits during delivery. Injuries can be caused by Erb's palsy which occurs when the nerves that control the baby's arms and limbs are stretched or torn. Another injury is caput succedaneum - a swelling on the scalp. Both of them can cause permanent disability, and ongoing treatment can cost a significant amount of money. A Washington, DC birth defect lawyer can offer a no-cost initial consultation to review your case and determine the best course of action for you and your child.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer might be able to help parents determine the cause for a child's birth defect. Many birth defects are caused by genetics or factors during pregnancy. However, medications can also cause birth defects. Many common medications have a significant effect on fetuses especially during the first trimester of a pregnancy. This includes anti-nausea medication and NSAIDs as well as chemotherapy medications, certain antibiotics, and many more. These drugs have been linked with an increased risk of deformities in the limbs and heart defects, brain defects and craniosynostosis.

It is the professional responsibility of doctors to take into consideration these risks when prescribing medications for women who are pregnant. If doctors do not meet the standards of care required, they could be held liable for medical malpractice. Pharma companies can also be held accountable for not adequately informing mothers about the risks associated with their medications. Zofran is a drug used to treat nausea in cancer patients, has been found to increase the risk of major defects in first-trimester pregnancy.

An attorney for birth defects can assist a family to obtain compensation for medical expenses, loss of income and quality of living. This could include hospital expenses medical expenses, doctor's fees and pharmaceutical costs and other costs, as well as assistive devices and therapy.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer may bring a lawsuit for parents of children with congenital disabilities as a result from the negligence of companies exposing pregnant women to chemicals and drugs that cause birth deformities. These lawyers are specially-trained to identify the cause of birth defects, so that they can bring a suit against companies that expose pregnant women to teratogens either at work or in their home.

Metals, fungicides, herbicides and pesticides are a few chemicals that can cause birth defects. These chemicals are referred to as teratogens due to their impact on the healthy development of the fetus by producing chemical changes that block normal cell function or create organs that are not properly formed. These chemicals are used in a variety of situations, such as semiconductor manufacturing and metal cleaning.

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

Parents have filed lawsuits against several companies who were responsible for exposing the families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune to these harmful chemicals. Some of these birth defect lawyers have won substantial settlements for families whose children were born with severe birth defects due to the exposure to toxic chemicals on the base.

Environmental Exposure

Some birth defects are caused by a combination of medical negligence as well as environmental conditions or chemicals. If a family believes their child's birth defect attorney defect may result from medical negligence, prescription drug abuse or exposure to harmful chemicals, they should contact a DC birth injury lawyer to discuss the matter.

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

Arsenic in drinking water or cadmium found in coal that has been contaminated for instance, can cause birth defects and other health issues. Certain birth defects can also be associated with industrial solvents like benzene (a metal degreaser), toluene (a solvent for plastics) and trichloroethylene. Glycol-ethers, which are employed in the manufacturing of silicon chips, semiconductors and video displays, are known to increase the risk of developing birth defects too.

LK's highly experienced birth defect lawyers have filed a variety of lawsuits on behalf of children who suffer from a myriad of birth defects as a result of wrongful toxic and chemical exposure at workplaces or in their homes. These lawsuits are based on complex scientific analyses and expert witnesses such as toxicologists and epidemiologists.