Birth Defects and Medical Malpractice

Every four and half minutes, a baby in the United States is born with a birth defect. These birth defects can impact the lives of those who are affected for a lifetime.

Different classifications and identifications of cases can lead to an over- or under-estimated number of birth defects. A well-designed surveillance system makes use of active case ascertainment (including medical record abstract and clinical review) in addition to passive reporting.

Causes

When a baby is born with an injury or defect it could have serious health effects on the child's health for the rest of their lives. Birth defects can result from medical negligence or a mistake of the doctor during pregnancy.

In some cases, birth defects can be avoided through prenatal care and good nutrition. In other instances they could be the result of environmental factors like exposure to hazardous chemicals or toxic substances. Birth defects can be caused by complications during pregnancy, such as constriction of the uterus, rupture of amniotic fluid's sac or a lack of oxygen to the fetus.

Certain Birth Defect Attorneys defects are caused by genetic illnesses that are passed down through families. These can be diagnosed with a blood test or an ultrasound. Certain of these diseases like PKU and sickle cell disease, can be treated or prevented. Some birth defect lawyer defects aren't identified as a cause. They are known as congenital disorders or congenital anomalies.

Women over the age of 30 and women of certain ethnicities have a higher risk of developing birth defects. Couples who have a similar family history of genetic illness might consider consulting a genetic counselor prior to trying to get pregnant. This can aid them in determining if further testing is necessary. Screening tests for newborns can help identify certain conditions, such as critical congenital heart defects, as well as certain infections that can be treated as soon as they are identified.

Diagnosis

A birth defect is an abnormal growth that can affect any part of the body, affecting the way that organs work or the structure of the body. Healthcare professionals can detect birth defects during pregnancy as well as after the baby is born or in the early years of childhood. Some birth defects, such as cleft lips, palates or craniofacial anomalies, are obvious. Others aren't as obvious, such as congenital cardiac diseases and biliary atresia (an obstructing of the duct, which transports bile to the liver).

Many birth defect-related conditions can be identified through newborn screening tests that look for a variety of health issues. PKU congenital hypothyroidism and sickle Cell Disease are among the conditions that can be identified through newborn screening tests. Newborn screening can also be used to detect genetic conditions such as Down syndrome. Certain birth defects can be diagnosed by a medical professional via ultrasounds and blood tests in pregnancy, based on the type of defect.

It's not always easy to determine the source of a birth defect. However, environmental factors are often associated with. This could include exposure to prescription or over-the-counter medications, chemical substances that are contaminating the water and air in communities, or complications that occur during pregnancy or the birth. Other times, birth defects are caused by a medical professional failing to take the appropriate measures to stop or treat a recognizable medical problem. In these cases it is possible to file a lawsuit for medical malpractice might be pursued.

Treatment

If a birth defect is recognized, the treatment options vary depending on the type and severity of the issue. Certain birth defects can be fixed before the baby is born. Others may require medical intervention or surgery after the baby's birth.

The most frequent birth defects are chromosomal. caused by missing or extra genes that are present in the cells of a person. They usually come from the parents. Birth defects that are structural include things like cleft lip or neural tube defects as well as heart problems. These defects are caused by problems with the baby's organ development especially in the first three months of pregnancy.

Screening tests are performed during pregnancy or after birth. They may also be conducted later on in life when symptoms begin to manifest. These tests can be done through ultrasounds or blood tests. A person may undergo a genetic test for birth defects to determine if they're predisposed to suffer from a certain condition.

Preventing birth defects is not always easy. Some are caused by complications that happen during the pregnancy of a woman, while others can be traced back to certain environmental factors. The use of drugs, tobacco or alcohol during pregnancy may result in birth defects. Some birth defects are also linked to certain chemicals that are present in the environment, including herbicides and pesticides, such as Agent Orange used during the Vietnam War from 1962 to 1971.

Compensation

Despite recent advancements in medicine, birth defects and injuries are still a tragic reality. Fortunately many birth defects can be prevented. It is important to consult an experienced lawyer if you suspect the birth defect could be due to the negligence of medical experts. An empathetic and experienced medical malpractice lawyer can help you comprehend your legal options and seek compensation to help cover the costs of your family and losses.

Our team of highly experienced birth defect lawyers has years of experience handling cases involving wrongful births. Our firm is a law firm that only accepts plaintiffs practice and we are proud on the high level of service we offer to our clients. We will take the burden off your shoulders so that you can focus on your child and your family.

We can assist you in pursuing compensation for losses, including future and past medical expenses, loss of income, punitive damages in some instances and emotional distress. Our lawyers will thoroughly investigate your case and will work tirelessly to ensure the best possible outcome for your family.

Manufacturers of drugs are required to adequately test their products prior to releasing them onto the market, and to inform consumers of possible adverse reactions. If, however, your child's birth defect was due to a pharmaceutical drug you may be able to make a claim for product liability with the assistance of a birth defects lawyer for drugs.