Why It Is Important to Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If you discover that your child is born with a birth defect, what should be an exciting moment can quickly turn into one of anxiety and uncertainty. Contact a medical malpractice lawyer and a birth defect lawyer as soon as possible.

To get the full amount of compensation you are entitled to, you'll have to keep all of your bills, receipts and credit card transactions. We have successfully represented families in cases against big electronics companies, agricultural pesticide manufacturers and commercial growers.

Medical Malpractice

Many birth defects are the result of medical mistakes or malpractice that occurred during pregnancy. Some of these problems are more serious than others however they can all be devastating to the child and loved ones. A medical malpractice lawyer can determine if the doctor made an error that led to the defect or injury.

Certain birth defects are easily detected through screening tests that doctors conduct during pregnancy. If these tests are conducted and properly, parents will be aware of the risk of their child developing an abnormal birth. This information could enable them to decide to terminate the pregnancy, or at least prepare for the child's birth and treatment. Medical malpractice is a crime when a doctor fails to interpret or perform these tests, or if he or she fails to inform the parents of the results.

Treatments for birth defect lawsuit defects are often expensive. These treatments include surgeries, specialists, medication physical and speech therapies as well as assistive equipment. A lawsuit for wrongful birth could assist in easing the financial burden of these costs. This will enable families to provide the services their child requires. Medical malpractice claims can be complicated and time-sensitive. It is therefore essential to get a skilled attorney as soon as you can.

Prescription Drugs

Despite the advancements in medical science and the latest technology birth injuries and defects are possible. Mild or severe birth defects and injuries typically require a lifetime of medical attention. In some instances, they may even cause death. A Boston dangerous drug lawyer can assist parents receive compensation for their child's present and future medical expenses, including hospital procedures as well as doctor's visits, rehabilitation services, assistive devices and many more.

If a doctor prescribes medication to an expectant mother that increases the likelihood of her child's having a birth defect, they could be guilty for medical malpractice. They must be aware of the medications that can affect fetal development and not prescribe drugs harmful to the embryo.

Prescription medications that increase the risk of a birth defect are known as teratogens. These include anti-seizure medication such as Dilantin and Tegretol. The FDA has issued a warning against the use of these medicines in pregnancy. They may increase the risk of cleft lips and cleft palates and brain, lung and heart abnormalities. They can also cause miscarriage for women who are pregnant or nursing. Parents may sue doctors, the makers of the drugs, and the pharmacists who gave the medications for failing to warn them about their risks.

Toxic Chemicals

Parents often wonder what caused their child to be born with a birth deformity. In reality, many different factors can trigger the birth defect, ranging from side effects of medication to exposure to toxic chemicals in the uterus.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 1 out of 33 babies are born with a birth deformity. These issues can range from minor to major and can even be life-threatening. The majority of the time, a birth defect is the result of genetic defects. Birth defects are often caused by chemical or environmental exposure in the womb. These are known as teratogens and they increase the risk of structural or functional abnormalities that cannot be reversed in offspring.

A lot of Americans are exposed to industrial chemicals every single day. The list of potentially harmful chemicals is long, ranging from semiconductor and technology factories with clean rooms, to pesticides used on nurseries and farms as well as automobile, paint, plastics and paint manufacturing facilities.

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

Environmental Exposure

Being a parent of a child who has an anomaly in the birth process is extremely difficult for parents as it will require medical treatment throughout the life of their child. Depending on the severity the condition, certain birth defects can result in lifelong physical and mental impairments for the baby.

While certain birth defects are inevitable due to genetics, many others are caused due to exposure to chemicals or the environment during pregnancy. These include prescription drugs and toxic chemicals that the mother may ingest, or chemical substances that are contaminated air or groundwater.

Aside from medical malpractice, birth defect lawsuits can be brought against businesses or individuals that are accountable for the child's injury. If a physician prescribes a medication that increases the risk of developing a birth defect, then they could be held accountable.

The same is true for companies or individuals who expose workers to dangerous chemicals and other substances. Numerous studies have shown that exposure to pesticides and fungicides along with paints, metals and lead may increase the chance of children developing certain types of birth defect. In order to address this issue there were lawsuits filed against beauty salons and cleaning operations as well as semiconductor manufacturing facilities and painting factories. The development of a Web-based integrated Birth Defects Surveillance system 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.