Why It Is Important to Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

Being aware that your child has an abnormal birth defect can transform what should have been an exciting experience to an anxious and uncertain one. It is essential to speak with an experienced medical malpractice and birth defect lawyer as soon as you can.

To receive the full compensation you deserve, you'll have to keep all of your bills, receipts, and credit card payments. We have successfully represented families in lawsuits against large electronics companies as well as agricultural pesticide producers and commercial growers.

Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice or errors that occurred during pregnancy can be the cause of many birth defects. Certain of these problems are more serious than others, but any birth defect or injury can be devastating for the child and the family members who love them. A medical malpractice lawyer can determine if the doctor knowingly made an error that led to the defect or injury.

Some birth defects are able to be detected by screening tests that doctors perform during pregnancy. These tests can be conducted and interpreted correctly to inform parents about the possibility that their child may have a birth defect. This information could permit them to terminate the pregnancy, or at least prepare for the birth of the child and treatment. If the physician fails to carry out or interpret these tests or fails to notify the parents of the results, this could be deemed medical malpractice.

Medical treatments for birth defect are typically expensive. The treatments may include procedures, specialists, medications therapy, physical and speech and assistive equipment. The money awarded in a wrongful birth lawsuit could help ease the financial burden that is associated with these costs making it easier for families to receive the help their child requires. Medical malpractice lawsuits can be complicated and time-sensitive. It's therefore important to get a skilled attorney as soon as you can.

Prescription Drugs

Despite recent medical advances and modern technology birth defects and injuries are still possible. Birth defects and injuries could be serious or minor and, in most cases, require life-long medical care. In some cases they can even lead to death. A Boston dangerous drug lawyer can help parents receive compensation for their child's current and future medical costs, including hospital procedures and doctor's appointments rehabilitation services, assistive devices and more.

If a doctor prescribes a medication to a pregnant mother that increases the likelihood of her child's having a birth defect, they could be guilty for medical malpractice. They have a responsibility to know which medications could negatively impact the growth of a fetus, and not recommend harmful substances to the foetus.

Prescription drugs that increase the risk of a birth defect are referred to as teratogens. These include anti-seizure medication such as Dilantin and Tegretol. The FDA has issued warnings regarding the use of these medications during pregnancy. These medications increase the risk of Cleft lips, cleft palates and lung, heart and other brain disorders. They can also cause miscarriage in women who are pregnant, or nursing. Parents can sue the doctors, manufacturers of the drugs as well as the pharmacists who gave the drugs for failing to warn about the risks.

Toxic Chemicals

If a child is born with a birth defect the parents often wonder what the cause is. Birth defects can be caused by a variety of causes, including the effects of medications and toxic chemical exposure during pregnancy.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, 1 in 33 babies is born with a birth defect. These problems can vary from minor to serious and can even be life-threatening. Most of the time a birth defect occurs as a result of genetic defects. However, a significant portion of birth problems are the result environmental or chemical exposure that happens in the womb. These chemicals are referred to as teratogens. They increase the likelihood of irreversible functional or structural abnormalities in offspring.

A lot of people in the United States are exposed to industrial chemicals on a daily basis. From semiconductor and technology factories with clean rooms to pesticides in nurseries and farms, and automobile, plastics and paint manufacturing facilities the list of harmful chemicals is a long one.

It's not typical for companies not to inform their customers of the dangers that could be posed by these chemicals. The birth defect attorneys at LK can assist families to fight against corporations that place profits over the health and safety of their employees and children.

Environmental Exposure

A child born with a birth defect can be extremely distressing for parents, since it will require medical care throughout their infant's lifetime. Some birth defects can lead to mental and physical disabilities in the baby for life depending on the severity.

Certain birth defects cannot be avoided due to genetics. However exposure to chemicals or environmental factors can cause many others. This could be due to prescription drugs or toxic chemicals which could be ingested by the mother, or even from chemicals that have contaminated the air or groundwater in a community.

Apart from medical malpractice, birth defect lawsuits may be filed against individuals or businesses who are accountable for the injury suffered by the child. If a doctor prescribes medication that increases your child's risk of birth defect, they could be held responsible.

This is also true for companies or individuals who expose employees to hazardous chemicals and other substances. Numerous studies have demonstrated that exposure to pesticides or fungicides along with paints, metals and lead can increase the risk of children developing certain types of birth defect. In this regard, lawsuits have been filed against beauty salons, metal cleaning operations, semiconductor manufacturing facilities as well as paint factories for their involvement in the development of serious birth defects in children. Web-based Integrated Birth Defects Surveillance in New York State. Wang, Y., Tao, Z., Steen, P.M., Cross, P.K., Druschel, C.M. and Hwang, S-A. Journal of Public Health Management & Practice. 14(6): E1-E10. 2008.