Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer
If your child was born with a birth deformity, it can be devastating for the entire family. The cost of therapy, medical bills and other losses can quickly add up.
A Hyattsville birth defect lawyer can assist you in filing an action to collect compensation for the cost of taking care of your child with disabilities. A legal claim for birth defects could be complicated, and you should consult with a legal professional whenever you can.
Medical Malpractice
Medical professionals are required to adhere to a certain standard when treating pregnant women or their babies. A doctor can be held accountable for any damages if their actions result in birth defects or injuries. A DC lawyer with experience in birth defects lawsuits will help you determine whether your child's health issue was caused by a medical mistake during pregnancy or the birth.
A doctor can also be held accountable for birth injuries if they fail recognize fetal distress and are unable to respond in a timely manner. This could lead to a variety of serious issues, including hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and brain injuries like cerebral palsy.
The difference between birth defects and birth injury is that defects are part of a person's genetic make-up, while injuries are caused due to something happening during labor, pregnancy or the birth. Injury can include Erb's Palsy, where the nerves controlling the infant's limbs and arms are stretched or torn. Another form of injury is called caput succedaneum. It's an increase in the size of the scalp. Both of them can lead to lifelong disability and require ongoing treatment, resulting in hefty medical costs. A Washington, DC birth defect lawyer will provide a no-cost initial consultation to look over your case and determine the most appropriate option for you and your child.
Prescription Drugs
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birth defect attorney may be able help parents determine the reason behind an infant's birth injury. Many birth defects result from the genetics of the baby or other factors during pregnancy. However, certain medications can also cause birth defects. A number of commonly used medications have a significant effect on fetuses especially during the first trimester of a pregnancy. They include anti-nausea medicines, NSAIDs, chemotherapy drugs such as certain antibiotics and many more. These medications have been proven to increase the risk of limb and brain defects, heart defects, and craniosynostosis.
A doctor's duty is to be aware of the risks when prescribing medications for women who are pregnant. If doctors do not adhere to this standard of care, they could be held accountable for malpractice. Pharma companies can also be held responsible for not adequately informing mothers about the dangers associated with their medication. Zofran is a medication used to treat nausea in cancer patients, has been shown to increase the risk of major defects during the first trimester pregnancies.
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birth defect attorney can assist a family in obtaining compensation for medical expenses, income loss and quality of living. This could include hospital, doctor's prescription, pharmaceutical, and other costs, in addition to assistive devices and therapies.
Chemical Exposure
A birth defect lawyer can bring a lawsuit for families of children with congenital disabilities as a result from the negligence of companies exposing pregnant women to chemicals and drugs that can cause birth deformities. They are trained to determine what caused the birth defect to sue companies who expose mothers to teratogens while they work or at their homes.
Metals, fungicides herbicides and pesticides are a few chemicals that can cause birth defects. These chemicals are known as teratogens due to the fact that they affect the development of a healthy embryo through chemical changes that cause abnormal organs, or disrupt normal cell function. These chemicals can be found in various settings, including manufacturing of semiconductors, cleaning of metals and paint production.
Other chemicals that can cause birth defects include aliphatic hydrocarbons, such as dichloroethane and trichloroethylene perchloroethylene. These chemicals have been known to cause birth problems, including cardiac disorders, in babies born to mothers exposed to them in the womb.
Parents have filed suit against a number of companies who were responsible for exposing the families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune to these harmful chemicals. Some of these
birth defect lawyers have won substantial settlements for families whose children were born with severe defects due to the toxic chemical exposures at the base.
Environmental Exposure
Certain birth defects can be caused by a combination of medical negligence and environmental conditions or chemical. If a family suspects the birth defects of a baby could be due to medical negligence, prescription drug overdose, or exposure to harmful chemical, they should consult an DC birth injury attorney to discuss their case.
Chemicals and other contaminants in the environment can cause birth defects of a serious nature when they are consumed or taken in by pregnant women. Teratogens are the names given to these substances. More than 4 million chemicals can be found in our food, air and water. Some of these chemicals are harmful to pregnant women.
For instance, arsenic from drinking water, and cadmium from contaminated coal can cause various birth defects as well as other health issues. Industrial solvents, such as trichloroethylene, benzene, and toluene (a metal degreaser) are also linked to certain birth defects. Glycol-ethers are also known to increase the risk of birth defects in women. These chemicals are used to make semiconductors as well as silicon chip displays and video displays.
LK's experienced birth defect attorneys have brought numerous lawsuits on behalf of children who suffer from a range of birth defects as a result of improper exposure to chemicals and toxic substances at workplaces or at home. These lawsuits are based on complex scientific analyses and expert witnesses, such as toxicologists and epidemiologists.