Birth Defect Law

Birth injuries and birth defects can result from a variety of causes. In many cases, these conditions are preventable.

Most often, they are caused by medical malpractice during pregnancy. Chemical exposure is a further cause. Workers in beauty salons and paint factories as well as metal cleaning operations, are at risk of developing these defects.

Causes

Birth defects are structural abnormalities that can affect one or more body parts. They can range in severity, ranging from mild to life-threatening. Each year, about 1 in 33 babies is born with a birth defect.

It can be heartbreaking for parents and other family members when a baby is born without an anomaly in the birth. Some birth defects are inherited from a parent's genes while others are caused by a variety of factors, such as issues with obstetrics, medication side effects as well as toxins and infections.

Birth defect lawyers and studies have revealed that a portion of the causes of birth defects are attributable to environmental factors, such as medications that are not properly prescribed by doctors as well as toxic chemicals found in the home and workplace, and toxic substances that can contaminate the environment. In the Vietnam War, mothers were exposed to the herbicide Agent Orange, which resulted in birth defects in children. Sadly, a majority of these birth defects could be prevented by taking the proper care.

Symptoms

Birth defects can affect the way your body looks and functions. It can be structural (such as the lip or cleft palate) or involve genetic changes. Down syndrome, for instance, is caused by an extra chromosome. Medical and environmental factors can be a contributing factor to this condition.

Some birth defects, such as the cleft palate and lips, are very obvious, while other birth defects can be less obvious. These include a slow response to sound, or the inability to meet developmental milestones like standing up and crawling.

A birth injury may be the result of an anomaly in the birth process or it could happen during labor and delivery for example, a caput succedaneum (a swelling on the newborn's scalp due to pressure during a head-first birth defect Lawyer). These injuries can be difficult to recognize, particularly when they show up as a slow heart rate and low oxygen levels or excessive drooling.

Treatment

If your child was born with a birth defect, there are treatment options that can help improve his or her condition. These include medication, surgery as well as specialized therapy.

According to the CDC, birth defects can affect any body part and influence how that part looks or functions. They can also affect the life span of your child.

Many different health care professionals can assist a newborn with a birth defect including pediatricians, family practice physicians, and neonatologists. If your baby has a serious birth defect such as club foot, you may require an orthopedic or limb specialist surgeon.

If your doctor breached the duty of care to you during your pregnancy and the breach resulted in your child's birth defect, you could pursue an action for medical malpractice. It is the responsibility of both the pharmaceutical industry and doctors prescribing certain medications to inform women who are pregnant or planning to be pregnant about the dangers of birth defect. This includes selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These drugs are linked to various health issues, including birth defects.

Damages

Medical professionals must take all necessary precautions to ensure that infants do not suffer from birth defects and injuries. If doctors fail to take the necessary precautions parents may be entitled to compensation to cover their costs.

There are different types of damages based upon the degree of injury or birth defect. A lawyer can assist you decide which damages to seek.

The CDC each year reports that one baby in 33 is born with a defect. The causes vary from lips clefts to missing limbs, and can have severe and long-lasting consequences.

If your child has suffered an birth defect due to medical malpractice, it is imperative that you act swiftly to submit a claim before the statute of limitations expires. A Pittsburgh medical malpractice lawyer can help you. A legal consultation can assist you in determining how much your case could be worth.

Statute of limitations

If your child has an injury or defect in the birth defect attorneys process that could have been prevented through medical negligence, you could have a legal claim. However there are strict deadlines - referred to as statutes of limitations - which you must meet or your case will be dismissed.

A birth defect is a condition affecting a newborn infant and can result in physical or mental impairments, including death. These cases fall within different areas of law such as medical negligence as well as products liability and employment law. For instance Thalidomide was a drug that caused fetal problems decades ago, and led to class actions against its manufacturer.

While birth defects are a tragic aspect of life, they are usually avoidable. This is why medical malpractice lawsuits against doctors are crucial to safeguard patients.

Find an Attorney

Despite the fact that modern technology and medical advancements have drastically reduced the risks of pregnancy and birth, certain birth defects can still occur. Parents who are shocked discover that their child was afflicted by birth defect or injury are legally entitled to compensation.

According to the CDC birth defects can affect any part of an infant's body and often have an enormous impact on their function and appearance. Certain of these conditions are not apparent until the baby is born or even later in the course of. Many of these conditions are linked to medical negligence.

An empathetic and skilled medical malpractice lawyer can help your family recover the damages you owe for your child's injuries. These injuries include emergency surgery as well as long-term care and treatment. They also include medications as well as physical therapy and education costs.