Jocelyn Rivas asked 10 months ago
Why It Is Important to Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer
If you discover that your child was born with a birth defect what should be a joyful time can quickly turn into one of anxiety and uncertainty. It is important to contact an attorney for medical malpractice and birth defect lawyer immediately.
To get the full amount of compensation you are entitled to, you’ll have to keep all of your bills, receipts and credit card payment. We have successfully represented families in cases against big electronics companies as well as 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 issues are more severe than others, but all birth defects or injuries can be devastating for the baby and their loved ones. A medical malpractice attorney can assist in determining if the doctor’s error which led to the defect or injury.
Doctors can detect some birth defects through screening tests during pregnancy. These tests can be conducted and interpreted correctly to inform parents about the possibility that their child might have a birth defect. This information could enable them to decide to terminate the pregnancy, or at a minimum, prepare for the birth of the child and treatment. If the doctor does not conduct or interpret these tests or fails to notify the parents of the results, this could be considered medical malpractice.
Treatments for birth defects are usually expensive. They can require surgeries, specialists, medication, physical and speech therapy, and assistive devices. The money awarded in a wrongful birth lawsuit could help ease the financial burden that is related to these costs making it easier for families to receive the help their child requires. Medical malpractice lawsuits can be complicated and time-sensitive. Therefore, birth defect lawyer it is important to seek out an experienced attorney as soon as you can.
Prescription Drugs
Although the advancement of technology and advancements in the medical field have greatly reduced the risk of birth injuries and defects, they are still possible. Birth defects of a mild or severe nature and injuries often require lifelong medical care. In some cases, they could even cause death. A Boston dangerous drug lawyer can help 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 doctor could be guilty of medical malpractice if they recommend a medication for a pregnant woman that increases the risk of her child being born with a birth defect. They have a duty to know which medications could adversely affect the growth of a fetus and not prescribe drugs harmful to the fetus.
Teratogens are prescription drugs which increase the likelihood of a birth defect. These include anti-seizure medication like Dilantin and Tegretol. The FDA has issued warnings against the use of these medicines during pregnancy. These medications increase the risk for cleft palates, cleft lips and heart, lung and other brain disorders. These drugs also pose a risk of miscarriage in women who are breastfeeding or pregnant. Parents may be able to sue doctors, drug companies and pharmacists for failing to warn of the dangers.
Toxic Chemicals
Parents often ask what caused their child to be born with a birth deformity. 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 (CDC) 1 in 33 babies are born with a birth defect. These birth defects can be minor or serious or even life-threatening. The majority of the time birth defects are an unfortunate genetic anomaly that occurs through no fault of the mother. Birth defects are often caused by chemical or environmental exposure in the womb. These chemicals are known as teratogens and increase the likelihood of irreparable functional or structural defects in offspring.
There’s a vast array of industrial chemicals that have been associated with birth defects and other reproductive harm, and a lot of people across the country are exposed them every day. The list of potentially harmful chemical is long, covering semiconductor and technology factories equipped with clean rooms, to pesticides that are used on nurseries and farms as well as automobile, paint, plastics and paint manufacturing facilities.
Most of the time, the companies that manufacture these chemicals fail to properly test them for possible effects on humans and it’s not unusual for them to fail to include adequate warnings on their products or services. The birth defect lawyers at LK can assist families in fighting large corporations who put profits ahead of the health and safety of their employees and children.
Environmental Exposure
Parents can be extremely distressed due to a birth defect in a child because they will need to provide medical attention throughout the duration of their baby’s. Some birth defects can result in physical and mental disabilities in the child for life, depending on the degree of the defect.
While certain birth defects are unavoidable due to genetics, others are caused by exposure to chemicals or environmental elements during pregnancy. These include prescription medications and toxic chemicals that the mother can ingest or chemical substances that have contaminated air or groundwater.
Apart from medical malpractice, birth defect lawsuits are filed against individuals or businesses who are responsible for the injury suffered by the child. If a doctor prescribes a medication that increases the risk of birth defect, then they could be held accountable.
It’s also true for individuals or businesses who expose their employees to harmful chemicals and substances. Many studies have shown that exposure to fungicides, pesticides in combination with lead, metals, and paints could increase the chances of having a child born with certain types of birth defects. In this regard, lawsuits have been filed against beauty salons and metal cleaning facilities, semiconductor manufacturing facilities and paint factories for their role in the development of serious birth defects in children. 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.