Why It Is Important to Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer
Learning that your child has a birth defect could turn what was supposed to be an exciting experience to a stressful and unsure experience. It is important to contact a medical malpractice or birth defect lawyer right away.
In order to receive the full compensation you deserve, you will have to pay all your receipts, bills and credit card transactions. We have successfully represented families in claims against big electronics firms, agricultural pesticide makers and commercial growers.
Medical Malpractice
Many birth defects are the result of medical mistakes or malpractice that occurred during pregnancy. Some of these issues are more serious than others however they can all be devastating to the child and loved ones. A medical malpractice attorney can determine if the doctor’s error that led to the injury or defect.
Doctors can identify some birth defects by conducting screening tests during pregnancy. When these tests are carried out and interpret them correctly, parents can be informed of the risk that their child may have a birth defect. This information allows them to decide if they wish to terminate the pregnancy or prepare for the birth and treatment of the child. If the physician fails to perform or birth defect attorneys interpret these tests, or if they fail to inform parents of the results, it could be considered medical malpractice.
Treatments for birth defects are often expensive. The treatments may include procedures, specialists, medications therapy, physical and speech and assistive devices. A wrongful birth defect attorney lawsuit may assist in easing the financial burden of these costs. This will enable families to provide the services their child needs. Medical malpractice lawsuits are complex and time-sensitive, therefore it is crucial to find a reputable attorney as soon as possible.
Prescription Drugs
Despite recent medical advances and modern technology birth injuries and defects are possible. Birth injuries and birth defects may be minor or severe, and they often require ongoing medical attention. In some instances they can cause death. A Boston dangerous drugs lawyer can assist parents in obtaining compensation to cover medical expenses in the near and in the future, such as hospitalizations, doctor’s visits, rehabilitation services, assistive equipment, and more.
When a physician prescribes a medication to a pregnant mother that increases the risk of her child’s developing a birth defect they could be guilty for medical malpractice. They are required to know what medications can affect the development of the fetus and birth defect attorneys to not prescribe medications that are harmful to the fetus.
Prescription drugs that increase the risk of a birth defect are referred to as Teratogens. These include anti-seizure medication such as Dilantin and Tegretol. The FDA has warned against the use of these drugs during pregnancy. These medications increase the risk for cleft lips, cleft palates and lung, heart and other brain abnormalities. These drugs can also lead to miscarriage for women who are pregnant, or nursing. Parents may sue doctors, drug manufacturers and pharmacists for failing warn about the risks.
Toxic Chemicals
When a child is born with a birth defect, parents often wonder what was the cause. The truth is, several factors can trigger the birth defect, ranging from drug-related side effects or exposure to toxic chemicals in utero.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 1 out of 33 babies are born with a birth defect. These problems can be anything from minor to severe and can even be life-threatening. Most of the time, a birth defect is the result of genetic defects. However, a large percentage of birth defects are caused by environmental or chemical exposure that takes place during the womb. These chemicals are known as teratogens. They increase the chance of irreversible functional or structural problems in offspring.
There are a huge variety of industrial chemicals that have been associated with birth defects and other reproductive harm, and many people around the country are exposed them every day. From semiconductor and technology factories with clean rooms, to pesticides used in nurseries and farms and plastics, automobiles and paint manufacturing facilities, the list of potentially harmful chemicals is long.
It’s not typical for companies not to warn their customers about the dangers that could be posed by these chemicals. LK’s birth defect attorneys can assist families in fighting big corporations that place profits before the safety and health of their employees and children.
Environmental Exposure
Parents can be extremely distressed by a child’s birth defect as they have to provide medical assistance throughout the life of their infant. Certain birth defects can result in physical and mental disabilities in the infant for the rest of their lives depending on the degree of the defect.
While some birth defects are not preventable due to genetics, others are caused through exposure to chemicals or environmental factors during pregnancy. These include prescription drugs or toxic chemicals that may be ingested by mothers or from chemical substances that have been able to pollute the air or groundwater in the community.
In addition to medical malpractice, birth defect lawsuits are filed against companies or individuals who are responsible for the child’s injury. For instance, if a physician prescribes a medicine that increases the likelihood of the birth defect of your child, they may be held liable.
The same is true for those or companies that expose employees to hazardous chemicals and other substances. Numerous studies have demonstrated exposure to pesticides, fungicides along with paints, metals, and lead may increase the likelihood of a child developing certain kinds of birth defect. Because of this, lawsuits have been filed against beauty salons, metal cleaning operations, semiconductor manufacturing facilities as well as paint factories for their involvement in the development of serious birth defects in children. Web-based integrated birth defect surveillance in New York State. Wang, Y., Tao, Z., Steen, P.M., Cross, P.K., Druschel, C.M. and Hwang, S-A. Journal of Public Health Management & Practice. 14(6): E1-E10. 2008.