Why It Is Important to Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer
Finding out that your child has an anomaly in their birth can turn what was supposed to be a joyous time into a stressful and uncertain one. It is imperative to contact an attorney for medical malpractice and birth defect lawyer as soon as you can.
In order to receive the full compensation you deserve, you will need to collect all your receipts, bills, and credit card payments. We have successfully represented family members in lawsuits against large electronics firms, agricultural pesticide producers and commercial growers.
Medical Malpractice
Many birth defects are the result of medical errors or negligence that occurred during pregnancy. Some of these problems are more severe than others however they can be all detrimental to the child and loved ones. A medical malpractice lawyer can help determine if the doctor made an error that caused the injury or defect.
Doctors can identify birth defects by conducting screening tests during pregnancy. These tests can be performed and interpreted correctly to inform parents about the possibility that their child might 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 perform or interpret these tests, or if they fail to inform parents of the results, it could be considered medical malpractice.
Medical treatments for birth defect are typically expensive. They can involve surgeries, specialists, medication as well as speech and physical therapy, and assistive devices. The compensation a lawsuit for wrongful birth can help to ease the financial burden that is caused by these expenses making it easier for families to access the care their child needs. Medical malpractice lawsuits can be complex and time-sensitive. Therefore, it is important to seek out an experienced attorney early enough.
Prescription Drugs
Despite recent medical advances and advances in technology, birth injuries and defects are possible. Birth defects and injuries can be severe or mild and, in most cases, require ongoing medical attention. In certain cases, they can even cause death. A Boston dangerous drug lawyer can assist parents get compensation for their child's current and future medical expenses, such as procedures in the hospital or doctor's office rehabilitation services, assistive devices, and more.
A physician could be committing medical malpractice if they prescribe a medication to a pregnant woman that increases the likelihood of her child being born with a birth defect. They are required to know which medications could adversely affect the growth of a fetus and to avoid prescribing harmful medications to the baby's fetus.
Teratogens are prescription medications that increase the chance of a birth defect. They include anti-seizure medications such as Dilantin, Lamictal, Tegretol and Topamax. The FDA has warned against using these drugs during pregnancy. These medications can increase the risk for cleft palates, cleft lips and lung, heart and other brain abnormalities. These drugs also carry a chance of miscarriage in women who are nursing or pregnant. Parents can sue their doctors, the producers of the drugs, and the pharmacists who sold them for failing to warn them of the risks.
Toxic Chemicals
When a baby is born with a birth defect parents often wonder about what caused it. Birth defects can be caused by a range of causes, such as adverse effects from medications as well as exposure to toxic chemicals during pregnancy.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, 1 in 33 babies are born with a birth defect. These problems can be minor or serious or even life-threatening. The majority of the time, a birth defect is a result of genetic abnormalities. However, a large percentage of birth defects are the result of exposure to chemicals or environmental elements that takes place during the womb. These chemicals are referred to as teratogens. They increase the risk of irreparable functional or structural problems in offspring.
A lot of Americans are exposed to industrial chemicals on a daily basis. From semiconductor and technology factories with clean rooms to pesticides used in nurseries and farms and even automobile, plastics and paint manufacturing plants, the list of potentially harmful chemicals is a long one.
It's not common for companies to fail to warn their customers about the potential dangers of these chemicals. The team of birth defect
attorneys at LK can help families fight back against large corporations that place profits over the safety and health of their employees and their children.
Environmental Exposure
Parents can be extremely upset due to a birth defect in a child because they will need to provide medical treatment for the entire duration of their baby's. Based on the severity of the issue, some birth defects can result in lifelong physical and mental impairments for the infant.
While certain birth defects are unavoidable due to genetics. Many others can be triggered through exposure to chemicals or environmental factors during pregnancy. These include prescription drugs or toxic chemicals that a mother can ingest or chemicals that have been contaminated by air or groundwater.
Birth defect lawsuits aren't limited to medical malpractice. They can also be filed against businesses or individuals who are responsible for the injury of the child. For instance, if a doctor prescribes a medicine which increases the risk of your child's birth defect the doctor could be found to be responsible.
The same goes for business owners or individuals who expose workers to dangerous chemicals and other substances. Numerous studies have proven that exposures to pesticides or fungicides, along with paints, metals and lead can increase the chance of a child developing certain types of birth defects. Because of this, lawsuits have been filed against beauty salons as well as 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.