Why You Should Hire a
Birth Defect AttorneyLearning your child has an issue with their birth can change the joy of being a parent into a harrowing experience. The majority of birth defects require ongoing medical treatment, which could result in staggering financial costs.
A New York birth defect attorney will determine if your child's illness was caused by negligence at the hands of a doctor or hazardous chemicals or drugs.
Causes of Birth Defects
Contact an Long Island birth defect attorney immediately if your child has a birth defect that could have been prevented by an expert medical professional. An experienced attorney can take care of the preceding step quickly and efficiently, so that you can grieve your ailing loved one.
Birth defects are structural or functional changes to the body of a fetus which can affect virtually any body part. They can lead to physical issues and intellectual and developmental issues such as difficulty communicating or learning, or difficulties with activities such as walking, or caring for oneself.
Some birth defects can even be detected prior to the birth of the baby by specific tests. This includes analyzing the cells in blood samples or taking a sample of amniotic fluid or the placenta. Doctors can identify birth defects by using ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging.
Certain birth defects are caused by genetic factors such as the chromosomes of a fetus's and genes. These defects can be passed down by the parents or triggered by mutations in the DNA of the fetus before conception. Some of the most common birth defects that are genetic in nature include trisomy 21, spina Bifida, and Tay-Sachs disease. Many other genetic
birth defect are not known to have a cause.
Medical Malpractice
You may be able file a claim against the doctor for medical malpractice in the event that you or your child were injured by a mishap made by the health professional. This includes failing to recognize the problem, for example, an obstetrician who fails to consider your symptoms seriously, makes a wrong diagnosis, and is unable to begin the proper treatment, or fails to follow up with the results of tests. This could also include mistakes in medication, such as the wrong diagnosis of anesthesia, prescribing too much medication, or the wrong medication, as well as surgical errors.
Finding a lawyer who has expertise in malpractice cases could be difficult. You can ask your family members, friends, and attorneys in other fields for suggestions. In addition, you may contact your state bar association. Most bar associations have search/referral tools that will help you find an experienced medical malpractice lawyer.
Chemical Exposure
Sometimes, birth defects result from exposure to hazardous chemicals that harm the mother or fetus. A lot of these chemicals can be present in the workplace where they are used to create products like plastics, paint, batteries and ceramic glazes. These chemicals can be consumed or inhaled, or absorbed through the body's skin. Certain of these toxins are believed to increase the risk for the child to develop a birth defect, such as spina-bifida and other psychological and physical conditions.
These teratogens are present in drugs that doctors have negligently prescribed, in the use of chemicals at work such as those in semiconductor "clean rooms" or in toxic chemicals that contaminate air and water. The Thornton Law Firm has represented parents whose children were born with serious birth defects because the mothers were exposed to glycol ethers as well as coal ash and pesticides at their work.
Contact an experienced New York birth injury lawyer to set up a free consultation should you suspect that the birth defect of your child was caused due to medical negligence, a hazardous drug or exposure to toxic substances during pregnancy. These claims have strict deadlines and are time-sensitive. An expert attorney can help determine if your child is eligible to submit a claim and whether it is appropriate to file the claim through a court case or an agreement to settle.
Product Liability
Many birth defects are caused by an improper prescription or exposure to chemicals. Parents are advised to contact a birth defect attorney immediately in the event that they believe their child's health issue was the result of negligence in the medical field or exposure to dangerous drugs. These cases can be extremely difficult and time-sensitive.
Medical malpractice cases are typically based on environmental factors that can cause birth defects, like improperly prescribed medications or drugs or care that is inadequate during pregnancy. It is imperative for families to seek legal help as soon as possible, because the time-limit for a medical negligence case is limited to one year.
A lawsuit for a birth defect caused by medication could also be filed if the doctor was negligent in prescribing a medication to a mother. For instance, if the doctor was not aware of the interactions of a drug with other medications the woman might be taking or did not adequately inform her of the side effects. A Maryland medication birth defect attorney can assist clients in recovering damages when a doctor is negligent and causes birth injuries or birth defect.
A family that has one of their children born with a severe birth defect can face enormous expenses, such as treatment, surgery and treatment throughout the child's life. A birth defect lawyer who is well-informed and experienced can help parents determine whether the medical condition of their child is due to medical negligence, a dangerous drug or toxic exposure.