What Causes a Birth Defect?
The last thing any expecting parent wants to hear is that their child may have a birth defect. These
birth defect law firm defects are caused by things that occur during the fetal stage and could affect your child's physical or mental health.
Prenatal testing and newborn screening can be used by a doctor to determine the presence of certain birth defects during pregnancy. Other birth defects may only be identified after your child's birth or when symptoms begin to appear.
What caused your child's asymmetry?
The causes of numerous birth defects remains unclear. However there are several things that increase the chance of having a child born with a defect. This includes using medications or taking certain medications before pregnancy, having a family member that has an abnormal birth or certain medical conditions, for instance rheumatic heart disease. Women who have a family history of these diseases are advised to consult a genetic counsellor before becoming pregnant.
The extent to which a birth defect in a child causes serious problems or not is contingent upon which body part is affected and how much of the body part is affected. The more severe the defect is then the more severe the issues will be.
The majority of birth defects are caused by genes or the environment during fetal growth. The risk of having a birth defect can be decreased by educating yourself about your family's history of health and genetic issues and speaking with an expert on genetics and following the guidelines for prenatal care.
Structural defects are birth defects that affect the way an element of your body appears or functions. They can be obvious, like cleft lips or Cleft palettes, but also invisible, such as chromosome disorders or metabolic disorders. Genetic disorders that are inherited can be a type of structural birth defects. Environmental causes, such as the lack of folic acids, can cause neural tube defects that lead to the development of the spinal cord and brain not working as intended.
Gather More Evidence Than You Think
There are many medical procedures pregnant women can undergo to learn more about possible birth defects. Amniocentesis can be one of them, where a healthcare provider takes an insignificant amount of fluid from the fetus to conduct analysis. This procedure could reveal chromosomal anomalies and other health conditions, such as infections (such as Zika or rubella) or genetic anomalies.
A doctor can also examine the blood of a fetus amniotic fluid, fetal blood and the umbilical cord for signs of birth defects. These tests are essential in determining the causes of birth defects. They also help determine the extent of the birth defect and its effects on a child's adult life.
However certain birth defects may be missed until a baby is born, or in rare cases, an adult. These conditions are not detectable until they become apparent, and are often detected using diagnostic equipment. In these kinds of situations, it is essential that the medical expert witness involved is familiar with these techniques and has the correct experience to recognize these defects. A seasoned medical malpractice attorney can help you identify the most suitable expert for your case.
Find an attorney who specializes in medical malpractice
When a child is born with a severe birth defect or suffers a devastating birth injury, it can completely turn a family's lives upside down. These injuries can lead to permanent physical and mental problems and require medical treatment for the rest of their lives.
Medical science may explain around 30% of
birth defect cases, but many others are still unsolved. Studies have shown that certain chemicals and substances can cause birth defects, for example those that are found in prescription or over-the counter medications that mothers use, the toxic chemicals at the heart of some communities and in homes, or the contaminating air and groundwater.
Doctors have a duty to assess an expectant mother's current medications, and advise her of any dangers for the embryo. If they fail in their duty, they can be held liable for birth defects caused by medication.
Doctors must also evaluate the safety and effectiveness of any equipment or procedure they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x-ray machines, surgical tools, and any other equipment. It could be a serious risk for a child when a doctor uses the equipment negligently or fails to calibrate it correctly. This would be considered to be malpractice. In the event of this it is important to contact a medical negligence lawyer as soon as you can. In certain states, you're only given a single year to file a medical malpractice case, so the faster you start the process the better.
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Birth defects affect one in 33 babies born each year, and are a major cause of infant death. These conditions could be life-threatening, and can lead to lasting physical, cognitive and emotional difficulties. Researchers have in a few instances identified the causes of birth defects due to exposure of the mother to prescription and non-prescription drugs as well as environmental toxins, maternal infections, complications during delivery and pregnancy or a family medical history or genetic illnesses (like sickle cell disease, PKU, or genetic diseases). In around 70% of cases, the cause is not known.
Certain birth defects are easily noticeable and can be detected either at birth or during the first year. Certain birth defects, such as heart defects or intellectual and developmental disabilities, require specific tests to determine the cause.
Researchers are trying to discover the causes of birth defects and how some of they can be prevented. Women who drink, smoke or consume illegal substances while pregnant increase their risk for having a child born with certain defects. Women with a family history that involves genetic disorders that are inherited may want to consult a genetic counsellor before trying to have a baby. They should also utilize the March of Dimes family health history form to collect information about medical conditions that run in their families and discuss it with their doctor or genetic counselor.