Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer
If your child is born with a birth deformity it could have a devastating effect on your family as well as you. Medical bills, therapy costs and other expenses can quickly become a burden.
A Hyattsville birth defect lawyer can assist you in filing claim for compensation for the costs of taking care of your child with disabilities. A legal claim for birth defects could be complicated, which is why you should consult with a legal professional whenever you can.
Medical Malpractice
Medical professionals must adhere to the highest standards of care when treating pregnant women and their babies. A doctor can be held responsible for damages when their actions cause birth defects or injuries. A DC lawyer who is experienced in birth defect lawsuits can help you determine if your child's illness could be due to an error made by the medical professional during pregnancy or delivery.
A doctor could be held accountable for birth injuries if they fail diagnose fetal distress or do not respond appropriately. This can cause numerous serious issues, including hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy as well as brain injuries such as cerebral palsy.
The distinction between birth defects and birth injury is that defects are a part of a person's genetic make-up and injuries are triggered by an event that occurs during pregnancy, labor, or birth. These injuries can be caused by ailments like Erb's palsy which develops when the nerves that stimulate and control the infant's arms are stretched or torn during the birth process and caput succedaneum, a swelling of the scalp. Both can result in a permanent disability, and continued treatment can cost a significant amount of money. A Washington, DC lawyer who is an expert in birth defects may offer a free consultation in order to analyze your case and decide on the best course for you and your baby.
Prescription Drugs
A birth defect lawyer could be able to help parents identify the root of the child's birth injury or defect. Many birth defects result from the genetics of the baby or other factors during pregnancy. However, medications can also cause birth defects. A number of common medications can have negative effects on foetuses. This is especially relevant in the first three months of pregnancy. Anti-nausea medications, NSAIDs and chemotherapy drugs are among the most common. These drugs have been shown to increase the risk of limb and brain defects, heart defects and craniosynostois.
A doctor's job is to be aware of these risks when prescribing medication for women who are pregnant. If doctors do not meet this standard of care they could be held liable for medical malpractice. Pharmaceutical companies could be held liable as well for failing to adequately warn mothers of the risks associated with their medicines. For instance, Zofran, a medication used to treat nausea in cancer patients, has been shown to significantly increase the risk of major congenital problems in first trimester pregnancies.
An attorney for birth defects can assist a family in obtaining compensation for medical expenses, loss of income and the quality of life. This could include hospital fees medical expenses, doctor's fees and pharmaceutical costs, and other expenses, as well assistive devices and therapy.
Chemical Exposure
A birth defect lawyer may file a lawsuit on behalf of families of children who have congenital disabilities as a result of the negligence of businesses exposing pregnant women to chemicals and medications that cause birth deformities. These lawyers are specially-trained to identify the cause of birth defects so they can file a lawsuit against companies who expose pregnant women to teratogens either at workplace or at home.
Metals, fungicides and herbicides as well as pesticides are a few chemicals that can cause birth defects. They are referred to as Teratogens as they interfere with the development of the fetus causing chemical changes that prevent normal cell function or lead to organs that are malformed. These chemicals are present in a variety locations, such as semiconductor manufacturing and metal cleaning.
Other chemicals that can cause birth defects include hydrocarbons with aliphatic properties, like dichloroethane and trichloroethylene perchloroethylene. These chemicals have been proven to cause heart defects in babies born to mothers who were exposed while they were in the womb.
Parents have filed lawsuits against several firms that were responsible for exposing the families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune to these harmful chemicals. Some of these birth defect lawyers have secured significant settlements for families who had children born with severe birth defects due to the exposure to toxic chemicals on the base.
Environmental Exposure
Certain birth defects can be caused by the combination of medical negligence as well as environmental conditions or chemicals. If a family believes that the birth defect in their child could be the result of medical negligence, prescription drug overdose or exposure to harmful chemicals, they should consult a DC birth injury lawyer to discuss the matter.
Chemicals and other substances in the environment can cause serious birth defects when they are inhaled or taken in by pregnant women. Teratogens are the name for these chemicals. Over 4 million chemicals are present in our air, food and water Some of them can be harmful if they come into contact with a woman who is pregnant.
For instance, arsenic found in drinking water and cadmium in coal that is contaminated may cause a variety of birth defects and other health issues. Industrial solvents, such as benzene, toluene and trichloroethylene (a metal degreaser) are also linked with certain birth defects. Glycol ethers that are used in the manufacture of silicon chips, semiconductors and video displays are known to increase the risk of
birth defects too.
LK's highly experienced
birth defect lawyers have filed numerous lawsuits on behalf of children who suffered from a myriad of birth defects resulting from the wrongful exposure to chemicals and toxic substances at workplaces or at home. These
lawsuits typically require sophisticated scientific analysis and experts, such as toxicologists or epidemiologists, geneticists occupational medicine specialists and embryologists.