Why It Is Important to Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

When you learn that your child was born with a birth defect what should have been an exciting time can quickly become one of worry and anxiety. It is imperative to contact an attorney for medical malpractice and birth defect lawyer immediately.

You’ll need to gather bills, receipts, credit card payments, and other evidence of your losses to be able to claim full compensation for your damages. We have represented family members in claims against large electronic companies, agricultural pesticide manufacturers and commercial growers.

Medical Malpractice

Many birth defects are the result of medical errors or malpractice that occurred during the pregnancy. Some of these issues are more severe than others, however all birth injuries or defects can be devastating for the baby and their loved ones. An attorney for medical malpractice can determine if the doctor made an error that caused the defect or injury.

Certain birth defects can be capable of being detected through screening tests that doctors perform during pregnancy. If these tests are conducted and interpreted correctly, the parents will be aware of the chance that their child could have a birth defect. This information allows them to decide whether to terminate the pregnancy or prepare for the birth and treatment of the child. If the doctor fails to carry out or interpret these tests or fails to notify the parents of the results, this may be deemed medical negligence.

Medical treatments for birth defects are typically expensive. They may require surgeries, specialists, medication as well as speech and physical therapy, and assistive devices. A wrongful birth lawsuit may help alleviate the burden of these costs. This will enable families to provide the services their child needs. Medical malpractice cases are complex and time-sensitive, so it’s important to hire an experienced attorney as quickly as you can.

Prescription Drugs

Although modern technology and recent developments in the medical field have drastically reduced the risk of birth injuries and defects, they are still possible. Mild or severe birth defects and injuries often require lifelong medical care. In some instances they may even cause death. A Boston dangerous drug lawyer can help parents recover compensation for their child’s current and future medical costs, including hospital procedures as well as doctor’s visits, rehabilitation services, assistive devices and more.

A doctor could be guilty of medical malpractice if they recommend a medication to a woman who is pregnant that increases the chance of her child being born with a birth defect. They must be aware of the effects of medications on fetal development and not prescribe medications that are harmful to the embryo.

Prescription drugs that increase the risk of having a birth defect are referred to as teratogens. These include anti-seizure medication such as Dilantin and Tegretol. The FDA has warned against using these drugs during pregnancy. They may increase the risk of developing cleft lips and cleft palates, as well as heart, lung and brain abnormalities. These medications can also cause miscarriage for women who are pregnant or nursing. Parents can be able to sue doctors, drug companies and pharmacists for failing to warn about the risks.

Toxic Chemicals

Parents often ask what caused their child to be born with a birth deformity. The truth is, there are a variety of factors that can cause birth defects, from medication side effects to toxic chemical exposure in utero.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 1 in 33 babies are born with a birth deformity. These problems can be anything from minor to severe and can even be life-threatening. A lot of the time, a birth defect is an unfortunate genetic anomaly that happens through no fault of the mother. Birth defects can be caused by environmental or chemical exposure during the womb. These chemicals are referred to as teratogens, and they increase the likelihood of irreparable functional or structural defects in offspring.

There’s a vast array of industrial chemicals that have been associated with birth defects and other reproductive harms and millions of people across the country are exposed to them each day. The list of potentially harmful chemical is extensive, ranging from semiconductor and technology factories equipped with clean rooms, to pesticides that are used on nurseries and farms as well as automobile, paint, plastics, and paint manufacturing facilities.

A lot of the time, the companies that manufacture these chemicals do not properly test them for their potential adverse effects on humans, and it’s not uncommon to see them fail to include adequate warnings on their products or services. LK’s birth defect attorneys can assist families in fighting large corporations who put profits before the safety and health of their employees and children.

Environmental Exposure

A child born with an anomaly in the birth process can be extremely distressing for parents, as they will require medical attention throughout their infant’s lifetime. The severity of the issue, some birth defects can result in lifelong physical and mental disabilities for the infant.

While certain birth defects are inevitable due to genetics. Many others can be triggered by exposure to chemicals or environmental elements during pregnancy. This could be due to prescription drugs or toxic chemicals that could be consumed by the mother or from chemicals that have been able to pollute the air or groundwater in a community.

Apart from medical malpractice, birth defect lawsuits may be filed against businesses or individuals that are liable for the child’s injuries. If a doctor prescribes a 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 workers to dangerous chemicals and other substances. Numerous studies have demonstrated that exposure to pesticides and fungicides as well as paints, metals and lead can increase the chance of children developing certain types of birth defects. In order to combat this issue the courts have filed lawsuits against beauty salons and metal cleaning operations as well as semiconductor manufacturing facilities and painting factories. Web-based integrated birth defect 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.