Why It Is Important to Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

When you discover that your child was born with a birth defect, what should be a joyful time can quickly turn into a time of anxiety and uncertainty. It is crucial to contact an attorney for medical malpractice and birth defect lawyer right away.

You'll need to gather bills, receipts, credit card payments, and other evidence of your losses in order to get full settlement for your losses. We have successfully represented families in cases against large electronics companies, agricultural pesticide makers and commercial growers.

Medical Malpractice

Many birth defects are caused by mistakes in medicine or malpractice that occurred during pregnancy. Some of these issues are more serious than others, but all birth defects or injuries can be devastating for the child and the family members who love them. A medical malpractice lawyer will help determine if the doctor erred that caused the injury or defect.

Doctors can identify some birth defect law firms defects by conducting screening tests during pregnancy. If these tests are conducted and interpret them correctly, parents can be informed of the possibility that their child will have an abnormal birth. This information will allow them to decide if they want to end the pregnancy or prepare for the birth and treatment of the child. Medical malpractice can be committed if the doctor fails to interpret or conduct these tests, or in the event that he or she fails to inform parents of the results.

Medical treatments for birth defects are typically expensive. These treatments include procedures, specialists, medications physical and speech therapies and assistive equipment. The money awarded in a wrongful birth lawsuit can help ease the financial burden that is caused by these expenses making it easier for families to receive the help their child needs. Medical malpractice lawsuits are extremely complicated and time-sensitive, which is why it's important to hire an experienced attorney as quickly as you can.

Prescription Drugs

Although the advancement of technology and developments in the field of medicine have drastically reduced the risk of birth injuries and defects, they are still possible. Birth injuries and birth defects may be minor or severe and require life-long medical care. In certain cases, they can even cause death. A Boston dangerous drug lawyer can assist parents recover compensation for their child's current and future medical expenses, such as hospital procedures and doctor's appointments, rehabilitation services, assistive devices and many more.

A physician could be committing medical malpractice if they prescribe a medication for a pregnant woman that increases her child's risk of developing a birth deformity. They have a duty to know what medications can affect the development of a fetus and not prescribe medications that are harmful to the baby's fetus.

Prescription medications that increase the risk of a birth defect are referred to as teratogens. They include anti-seizure drugs such as Dilantin and Tegretol. The FDA has warned against the use of these drugs during pregnancy. These drugs can increase the risk for Cleft lips, cleft palates and heart, lung and other brain disorders. These medications also pose a possibility of miscarriage among women who are nursing or pregnant. Parents can sue doctors, the manufacturers of the medications and the pharmacists who dispensed the medications for failing to warn about the risks.

Toxic Chemicals

Parents often wonder what caused their child to be born with a birth deformity. In reality, many different factors can cause the birth defect, ranging from the effects of medications to exposure to toxic chemicals during utero.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, 1 in 33 babies are born with a birth defect. These problems may be mild or severe, and sometimes even life-threatening. Most of the time a birth defect is a result of genetic abnormalities. However, a significant portion of birth defects are the result of environmental or chemical exposure which occurs in the womb. These chemicals are known as teratogens and increase the chance of irreparable functional or structural abnormalities in offspring.

There is a wide range of industrial chemicals that have been linked to birth defects as well as other reproductive harms and millions of people across the world are exposed to them each day. From semiconductor factories and technology with clean rooms, to pesticides in nurseries and farms and plastics, automobiles and paint manufacturing plants, the list of potentially harmful chemicals is extensive.

It's not common for companies to fail to warn their customers about the dangers that could be posed by these chemicals. The birth defect lawyers at LK can help families fight against large corporations who put profits ahead of the health and safety of their workers and children.

Environmental Exposure

Parents can be extremely upset due to a birth defect in a child as they have to provide medical attention throughout the existence of their infant. Some birth defects can cause mental and physical disabilities in the baby for life depending on the degree of the defect.

While certain birth defects are unavoidable due to genetics. Many others can be caused by exposure to chemicals or environmental elements during pregnancy. These can include prescription drugs or toxic chemicals which could be ingested by the mother or from chemicals that have affected the air or groundwater in a community.

Birth defect lawsuits aren't restricted to medical malpractice. They are also filed against individuals or companies who are responsible for the injuries of the child. If a doctor prescribes medication that increases your child's risk of developing a birth defect, then they could be held responsible.

The same goes for those or companies that expose workers to dangerous chemicals and other substances. Numerous studies have demonstrated that exposures to pesticides or fungicides, along with paints, metals, and lead can increase the chance of a child developing certain types of birth defect. To address this issue, lawsuits were filed against beauty salons and cleaning companies as well as semiconductor manufacturing facilities and painting factories. Development of a web-based integrated Birth Defects Surveillance system 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.