Why It Is Important to Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

Finding out that your child has a birth defect can turn what was supposed to be a joyous time into an uneasy and uncertain experience. It is important to contact a medical malpractice or birth defect lawyer immediately.

You'll need bills, receipts, credit card payments and other evidence of your losses to receive full compensation for your damages. We have successfully represented families in cases against large electronics companies, agricultural pesticide manufacturers and commercial growers.

Medical Malpractice

Many birth defects are caused by medical errors or malpractice that occurred during pregnancy. Some of these issues are more severe than others, however all birth defects or injuries can be devastating for the child and their family members. A medical malpractice lawyer can help determine whether the doctor made an error that caused the defect or injury.

Some birth defects are able to be detected by screening tests that doctors conduct during pregnancy. These tests can be done and interpret correctly to inform parents of the possibility that their child could be born with a birth defect. This information can help them decide if they wish to terminate the pregnancy or prepare for the birth and treatment of the child. If the physician fails to perform or interpret these tests or fails to notify the parents of the results, it could be deemed medical negligence.

Medical treatments for birth defects can be costly. The treatments may include surgeries, specialists, medication physical and speech therapies and assistive devices. The compensation awarded by a wrongful birth lawsuit can assist in easing the financial burden caused by these expenses which will allow families to access the care their child requires. Medical malpractice claims can be complicated and time-sensitive. Therefore, it's important to get a skilled attorney as soon as you can.

Prescription Drugs

Despite the advancements in medical science and advances in technology birth defects and injuries are still possible. Birth defects and injuries may be minor or severe and require ongoing medical attention. In some instances they can cause death. A Boston dangerous drugs lawyer can assist parents to recover compensation to cover medical expenses in the present and in the future, such as hospitalizations, doctor's visits, rehabilitation services, assistive equipment, and more.

A physician could be committing medical error if they prescribe medication to a woman who is pregnant that increases her child's risk of being born with a birth defect. They have a responsibility to be aware of which medications may negatively impact the growth of a fetus, and not recommend harmful substances to the fetus.

Teratogens are prescription drugs that increase the risk of a birth defect. They include anti-seizure medication like Dilantin, Lamictal, Tegretol and Topamax. The FDA has issued warnings about the use of these medications in pregnancy. They can increase the risk of cleft lips and cleft palates, as well as the brain, lung and heart abnormalities. They can also cause miscarriage for women who are pregnant, or nursing. Parents may sue doctors, manufacturers of the drugs as well as the pharmacists who sold them for failing to warn about the dangers.

Toxic Chemicals

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

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

A lot of Americans are exposed to industrial chemicals each day. The list of chemical hazards that may be harmful is extensive, ranging from semiconductor and technology factories that have clean rooms, to pesticides that are used on farms and nurseries and plastics, paint, automobiles, and paint manufacturing facilities.

A lot of the time, corporations that produce these chemicals don't adequately test them for their potential effects on humans, and it's not unusual for them to fail to include adequate warnings in their products and services. Our birth defect lawyers can assist families to fight big corporations that put profits ahead of the health and safety of their workers and children.

Environmental Exposure

Having a child with an anomaly in the birth process can be incredibly distressing for parents since it will require medical treatment throughout the life of their child. Depending on the severity of the condition, certain birth defects can result in lifelong mental and physical disabilities for the infant.

While certain birth defects are unavoidable due to genetics, others can be caused through exposure to chemicals or environmental factors during pregnancy. This could be due to prescription drugs or toxic chemicals that can be ingested by mothers or from chemical substances that have contaminated the air or groundwater in a community.

Aside from medical malpractice, birth defect lawsuits can also be filed against companies or individuals who are responsible for the injuries suffered by the child. For instance, if a doctor prescribes a drug which increases the risk of the birth defect of your child or birth defect, they could be found to be responsible.

This is also the case for individuals or businesses who expose their employees to harmful chemicals and substances. Numerous studies have proven exposure to pesticides, fungicides, along with paints, metals and lead may increase the risk of the child developing certain kinds of birth defects. For this reason, lawsuits have been filed against beauty salons as well as metal cleaning operations semiconductor manufacturing facilities, and paint factories for their involvement in the development of serious birth defects in children. Web-based integrated birth defect attorney defect surveillance in New York State. Wang, Y., Tao, Z., Steen, P.M., Cross, P.K., Druschel, C.M. Hwang, S.-A. Journal of Public Health Management & Practice. 14(6): E1-E10. 2008.