14 Common Misconceptions About Birth Defect Attorneys

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 an exciting moment can quickly turn into one of worry and anxiety. It is crucial to contact a medical malpractice and birth defect lawyer as soon as you can.

To get the full amount of compensation you are entitled to, you'll need to collect all your bills, receipts and credit card payment. We have represented family members in claims against large electronics firms, agricultural pesticide producers and commercial growers.

Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice or mistakes that occurred during pregnancy can be the cause of numerous birth defects. Certain of these problems are more severe than others however they can be all devastating to the child and loved ones. A medical malpractice attorney will help determine if the doctor erred which led to the defect or injury.

Some birth defects are capable of being detected through screening tests that doctors conduct during pregnancy. These tests can be conducted and interpreted correctly to inform parents of the possibility that their child could have a birth deformity. This information could enable them to decide to terminate the pregnancy, or at the very least plan for the birth of the child and treatment. If the doctor is unable to carry out or interpret these tests or fails to inform parents of the results, this could be considered medical malpractice.

Treatments for birth defects can be costly. They can require procedures, specialists, medications as well as speech and physical therapy, and assistive devices. A wrongful birth lawsuit could help ease the cost of these expenses. This will enable families to provide the services their child requires. Medical malpractice claims can be complex and time-sensitive. It is therefore essential to get a skilled attorney as soon as you can.

Prescription Drugs

While modern technology and recent advances in the field of medicine have drastically reduced the chance of birth injuries and defects, they are still possible. Birth injuries and birth defect attorneys defects may be minor or severe and, in most cases, require life-long medical care. In certain cases, they can even lead to death. A Boston dangerous drug lawyer can help parents obtain compensation for their child's current and future medical expenses, including procedures in the hospital, doctor's visits rehabilitation services, assistive devices and many more.

If a doctor prescribes a medication to an expecting mother that increases the risk of her child developing a birth defect, they could be guilty for medical malpractice. They have a responsibility to be aware of the medications that can affect fetal development and not prescribe drugs that could be harmful to the embryo.

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 advised against taking these medications during pregnancy. These medications increase the risk of cleft palates, cleft lips and lung, heart and other brain disorders. These drugs can also cause miscarriage for women who are pregnant or nursing. Parents can sue doctors, drug manufacturers and pharmacists for failing warn of the dangers.

Toxic Chemicals

When a child is born with a birth defect parents often wonder what caused it. Birth defects can be caused by a range of factors, including medication side effects and exposure to toxic chemicals during pregnancy.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, 1 in 33 babies is born with a birth defect. These issues can be anything from minor to severe and even life-threatening. Most of the time a birth defect is the result of genetic abnormalities. However, a large percentage of birth defects are caused by exposure to chemicals or other environmental factors that occurs in the womb. These chemicals are known as teratogens. They increase the likelihood of irreparable functional or structural problems in offspring.

Many Americans are exposed to industrial chemicals every day. From technology and semiconductor factories with clean rooms, to pesticides used in nurseries and farms as well as automobile, plastics and paint manufacturing facilities The list of harmful chemicals is extensive.

Most of the time, the companies that manufacture these chemicals fail to properly test them for their potential human-related effects, 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 fight large corporations who put profits over the safety and health of their workers and children.

Environmental Exposure

Parents may be very upset by a child's birth defect, as they will need to provide medical attention for the entire life of their infant. Based on the severity of the condition, certain birth defects can lead to lifelong physical and mental impairments for Birth Defect lawyers the infant.

While certain birth defects are unavoidable because of genetics, others can be triggered by environmental or chemical exposure during pregnancy. These include prescription drugs or toxic chemicals which could be consumed by the mother, or even from chemical substances that have caused contamination of the groundwater or air in the community.

Apart from medical malpractice, birth defect lawsuits are filed against businesses or individuals who are accountable for the injuries suffered by the child. For instance, if a physician prescribes a medication that increases the likelihood of your child's birth defect, they may be held responsible.

The same is true for companies or individuals who expose employees to hazardous chemicals and other substances. Numerous studies have demonstrated that exposure to pesticides and fungicides as well as paints, metals, and lead can increase the likelihood of a child developing certain types of birth defects. To combat this issue lawsuits were filed against beauty salons as well as metal cleaning companies as well as semiconductor manufacturing facilities and painting factories. The development of a Web-based, integrated Birth Defects Surveillance Program 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.