Why It Is Important to Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

When you learn that your child was born with a birth defect, what could be a joyful time could quickly become one of stress and uncertainty. It is imperative to contact a medical malpractice or birth defect lawyer as soon as you can.

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

Medical Malpractice

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

Certain birth defects are able to be detected by screening tests that doctors carry out during pregnancy. These tests can be conducted and interpreted correctly to inform parents of the possibility that their child could be born with a birth defect. This information helps them decide if they wish 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 inform parents of the results, it could be deemed medical malpractice.

Medical treatments for birth defects are typically expensive. They can require procedures, specialists, medications, physical and speech therapy, as well as assistive devices. A wrongful birth lawsuit may help alleviate the burden of these costs. This will allow families to provide the medical care their child needs. Medical malpractice claims are often complex and time-sensitive. Therefore, it's important to hire an experienced attorney early enough.

Prescription Drugs

Despite recent advances in medicine and advances in technology, birth problems and injuries are possible. Birth defects and injuries could be serious or minor and require ongoing medical attention. In some cases they can even lead to death. A Boston dangerous drugs lawyer can assist parents to recover compensation to cover medical expenses now and in the future, such as hospitalizations, doctor's appointments rehabilitation services, assistive equipment, and much more.

When a physician prescribes a medication to a pregnant mother that increases the likelihood of her child having a birth defect, they may be guilty of medical malpractice. They must know which medications can negatively affect the growth of the fetus and not prescribe drugs harmful to the fetus.

Teratogens are prescription drugs that increase the risk of having a birth defect. They include anti-seizure drugs like Dilantin, Lamictal, Tegretol and Topamax. The FDA has advised against taking these medications during pregnancy. These medications increase the risk of developing Cleft palates, cleft lips and lung, heart and other brain disorders. They can also cause miscarriage in women who are pregnant or nursing. Parents may sue doctors, manufacturers of the drugs as well as the pharmacists who prescribed them for failing to warn them of the risks.

Toxic Chemicals

Parents often wonder what caused their child to be born with a birth defect. The truth is that a number of different factors can cause birth defects, ranging from medication side effects or exposure to toxic chemicals in utero.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, 1 in 33 babies is born with a birth defect. These conditions can be anything from minor to severe and can even be life-threatening. Most of the time, a birth defect is the result of genetic abnormalities. However, a significant portion of birth problems are the result exposure to chemicals or environmental elements that happens during the womb. These are known as teratogens and they increase the risk of functional or structural defects that cannot be reversed in offspring.

Many Americans are exposed to industrial chemicals on a daily basis. From semiconductor factories and technology with clean rooms, to pesticides on farms and nurseries and plastics, automobiles and paint manufacturing facilities The list of harmful chemicals is a long one.

Most of the time, the companies that make these chemicals don't adequately test them for potential human-related effects, and it's not unusual for them to fail to include adequate warnings on their products or services. The birth defect law firm defect lawyers at LK can help families fight against big corporations that put profits ahead of the health and safety of their employees and children.

Environmental Exposure

Parents may be very upset by a child's birth defect as they have to provide medical care for the entire life of their child. Depending on the severity of the condition, certain birth defects can result in lifelong physical and mental disabilities for the infant.

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

Birth defect lawsuits are not only limited to medical malpractice. They can also be brought against individuals or businesses who are accountable for the injuries of the child. If a doctor prescribes medication that increases your child's likelihood of developing a birth defect they could be held accountable.

The same goes for those or companies that expose workers to dangerous chemicals and other substances. Numerous studies have proven that exposure to fungicides, pesticides, lead, metals and paints can increase the chance of having a child suffering from certain birth defects. For this reason, lawsuits have been filed against beauty salons, 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 Defects 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.