Why It Is Important to Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer
When you learn that your child was born with a birth defect what should be a joyful time can quickly turn into one filled with anxiety and uncertainty. It is crucial to contact a medical malpractice or birth defect lawyer immediately.
You will need to gather bills as well as receipts, credit cards payments and other evidence of your losses in order to receive the full amount of reimbursement for your losses. We have successfully represented families in court cases against big electronics firms as well as agricultural pesticide producers and commercial growers.
Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice or errors that occurred during pregnancy can be the cause of many birth defects. Certain of these problems are more grave than others, but all birth injuries or defects can be devastating for the child and their family members. A medical malpractice lawyer can determine if the doctor committed an error that led to the injury or defect.
Doctors can identify birth defects by conducting screening tests during pregnancy. These tests can be done and interpret correctly to inform parents about the possibility that their child may have a birth defect. This information could let them decide to terminate the pregnancy, or at a minimum, prepare for the child’s birth and treatment. Medical malpractice is a crime when a doctor fails to interpret or carry out these tests, or in the event that he or she fails to inform parents of the results.
Medical treatments for birth defects can be costly. These treatments can include procedures, specialists, medications therapy, physical and speech, and assistive equipment. A lawsuit based on wrongful birth can help ease the cost of these expenses. This will allow families to provide the medical care their child needs. Medical malpractice cases are complex and time-sensitive, therefore it is essential to choose a reputable attorney as soon as you can.
Prescription Drugs
Despite recent medical advances and modern technology, birth problems and injuries are possible. Birth defects that are severe or mild and injuries are often lifelong medical care. In some cases they can even lead to death. A Boston lawyer for dangerous drugs can assist parents to recover compensation to cover medical expenses for the moment and in the near future, which includes hospitalizations and doctor’s appointments, rehabilitation services, assistive equipment and much more.
When a physician prescribes a medication to a pregnant mother that increases the likelihood of her child having a birth defect, they could be guilty for medical malpractice. They have a responsibility to be aware of the effects of medications on the development of the fetus, and not prescribe medications that are harmful to the baby’s fetus.
Teratogens are prescription drugs that increase the risk of a birth defect. They include anti-seizure medications like Dilantin, Lamictal, Tegretol and Topamax. The FDA has warned against using these drugs during pregnancy. These medications may increase the risk of Cleft palates, cleft lips and heart, lung and other brain abnormalities. These medications can also cause miscarriage in women who are pregnant, or nursing. Parents may be able to sue doctors, drug companies and pharmacists for failing warn about the dangers.
Toxic Chemicals
When a child is born with a birth defect, parents often wonder about what caused it. Birth defects can be caused by a variety of factors, such as 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 problems can range from minor to major and even life-threatening. Most of the time a birth defect is the result of genetic defects. Birth defects can be caused by environmental or chemical exposure in the womb. These chemicals are known as teratogens and increase the risk of irreparable functional or structural problems in offspring.
Many Americans are exposed to industrial chemicals each day. From semiconductor and technology factories with clean rooms to pesticides used in nurseries and farms as well as automobile, plastics and paint manufacturing facilities, the list of potentially harmful chemicals is a long one.
It’s not common for companies to fail to inform their customers of the potential dangers of these chemicals. Our birth defect lawyers can assist families fight large corporations who put profits ahead of the health and safety of their employees and children.
Environmental Exposure
Being a parent of a child who has a birth defect can be extremely distressing for parents, since they will require medical attention throughout the lifetime of their infant. Depending on the severity the condition, some birth defects could cause mental and physical disabilities for the infant.
While some birth defects are unavoidable due to genetics. Many others can be triggered due to exposure to chemicals or the environment during pregnancy. These can include prescription drugs or toxic chemicals which could be ingested by mothers or from chemical substances that have been able to pollute the air or groundwater in a community.
Apart from medical malpractice, birth defect lawsuits can also be filed against businesses or individuals who are accountable for the child’s injury. For instance, if a physician prescribes a drug which increases the risk of your child’s birth defect and they are held responsible.
The same goes for business owners or individuals who expose workers to dangerous chemicals and other substances. Numerous studies have revealed that exposure to pesticides, fungicides or lead, as well metals and paints can increase the likelihood of having a child suffering from certain birth defects. In order to combat this issue the courts have filed lawsuits against beauty salons, metal cleaning operations, as well semiconductor manufacturing facilities and painting factories. 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.