What Causes a Birth Defect?
The last thing that any expecting parent would like to hear is that their child could have a birth deformity. These problems are caused by things that happen during the development of the fetus and can affect your child's physical or mental health.
Prenatal testing and newborn screening can be utilized by a healthcare professional to detect certain birth defects during pregnancy. However other birth defects can not be discovered until after your child's birth or a few years later when they show symptoms.
What Caused Your Child's Defect?
Many birth defects remain unknown. However there are several things that can increase the risk of having a baby born with defects. Some of these include using certain medications or taking certain drugs prior to becoming pregnant or having a family history of birth defects or having certain medical conditions, such as rheumatic diseases. Women with an ancestral history of these disorders are advised to speak with an expert on genetics prior to getting pregnant.
The extent to which a
birth defect in a child causes serious problems or not is dependent on the body part that is affected and the extent of the body part is affected. The more severe the birth defect, the greater the severity of the problems.
The majority of birth defects are caused by genetics or the environment during the fetal development. The chance of developing a birth defect is reduced by knowing about your family's history with genes and health issues by speaking to a genetic counselor, and following prenatal guidelines.
Structural defects are birth defects that affect the way an element of your body appears or functions. They can range from the visible, such as cleft lip and cleft palate, to the invisible, such as metabolic disorders or chromosome disorders. Genetically-inherited conditions may be a sign of birth defects that are structural. Environmental factors, like an absence of folic acid can cause neural tube defects that lead to the development of the spinal or brain not being correct.
Gather More Evidence Than You Think You Can.
There are a number of medical procedures that pregnant women undergo to discover more about potential birth defects. Amniocentesis is a prime example, in which a healthcare professional takes tiny amounts of fluid from the fetus for testing. This procedure can reveal chromosomal abnormalities as well as other health issues like infections (such as Zika or rubella) or genetic anomalies.
A doctor can examine the amniotic liquid, blood and tissues of a fetus for signs of
birth defect lawsuits defect. These tests are crucial to determining the cause of birth defects. They also aid in determining the severity of a birth defect could be and the effect it may have on a child's the years to come.
Some birth defect attorney,
j2v.Co.kr, defects might not be detected until after a baby's birth or, in some rare cases even after becoming an adult. These problems aren't visible before they are present and are usually only detected through diagnostic equipment. For these types of cases, it is crucial that the medical expert witness is familiar with these technologies and has the proper knowledge to recognize these defects. A lawyer who has expertise should be able to pinpoint the best expert for your case.
Hire a Medical Malpractice Lawyer
When a child is born with a severe birth defect or suffers from a severe birth injury, it can completely turn a family's lives upside down. These injuries can lead to lifelong physical and emotional issues that often require an entire lifetime of medical attention.
Although medical science has been able to identify the underlying causes behind about 30% of birth defects, many others remain unexplained. Research has found that certain chemicals and substances, such as those in prescription or over-the-counter medicines taken by mothers, toxic chemicals in the homes and communities or groundwater that is contaminated air, can cause birth defects.
Doctors must evaluate the dosage of medication taken by the expecting mother and inform her of any possible dangers to the embryo. If they fail to fulfill this obligation, they could be held accountable for birth defects caused by medication.
Doctors also have a responsibility to determine the safety of any procedure or device they recommend to pregnant women. This includes xray machines, surgical tools, and any other equipment. This could have serious consequences for a newborn baby when a doctor uses the equipment in a negligent manner or fails to calibrate it correctly. This is a case of malpractice. If this occurs you should seek out a medical malpractice attorney as quickly as you can. In some states, you're allowed only one year to file a case for medical malpractice and it's recommended to begin the process as soon as you can.
Take the First Step
Birth defects affect one out of 33 newborns each year and are a leading cause of infant death. These issues are life-threatening, and they can cause permanent physical, cognitive and emotional problems. In some cases, scientists have identified the causes as a mother's exposure to prescription and over-the-counter drugs, toxins in the environment or in the maternal environment, as well as complications of pregnancy and birth or a family medical history (like genetic illnesses, sickle cell disease or PKU). In around 70% of cases, the reason is unknown.
Certain birth defects, such as clubfoot or hearing loss, are easy to see and can be identified either at birth or during the first year of a child's existence. Others, like heart defects or developmental and intellectual disabilities, are not as easy to identify and require tests that are specific to the condition.
Researchers are attempting to determine what causes birth defects and how some of them can be prevented. Women who drink, smoke or consume illegal substances while pregnant are at greater risk of having a child with certain defects. Women who have a family history of inheritance genetic disorders should seek out a genetic counselor prior to trying to become pregnant. They should also use the March of Dimes family health history form to gather information about medical conditions that are prevalent in their families and then share it with their doctor or genetic counselor.