Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Attorney

The joy of parenting can be turned into a nightmare event when you discover that your child was born with an anomaly in the birth. Most birth defects require lifelong medical care, which can cause a huge financial burden.

A New York birth defects attorney can determine if your child's condition is caused by medical malpractice or toxic chemicals or drugs.

Causes of Birth Defects

If your child is suffering from an issue with their birth which could have been prevented by a medical professional, then you should contact an Long Island birth defects attorney as soon as possible. An experienced attorney can take care of the previous step quickly and efficiently, so that you can grieve your loved ones who have been injured.

Birth defects are structural or functional changes in the body of a fetus which can affect virtually every part of the human body. They may cause physical problems or developmental disabilities, intellectual and physical like difficulty in communicating or learning or with physical activities such as walking or taking care of oneself.

Certain birth defects can be identified before the baby is born with specific tests, such as studying the blood cells in a sample or by examining samples of amniotic fluid or the placenta. Nowadays, doctors are able to diagnose birth defects through ultrasound of the fetus or magnetic resonance imaging.

Some birth defects can be caused through genetic factors like abnormalities in the chromosomes and genes. These abnormalities may be inherited from the parents, or they can be caused by mutations in the fetus's DNA which occurred during the gestation process. Some of the most common genetic birth defects include trisomy 21, spina Bifida and Tay Sachs disease. Many other genetic birth defects have no explanation at all.

Medical Malpractice

If you or your child has suffered a medical injury due to an error made by a doctor, or other health care professional, you may be able to sue for medical malpractice. This can include failure to treat/diagnose, including the doctor not taking your symptoms seriously or making a wrong diagnosis and not beginning the correct treatment or failing to follow up on test results, medication errors (e.g., anesthesia mistakes such as giving excessive or the wrong medication) and surgical mistakes (e.g. or a surgeon removing a retractor blade inside the patient during surgery).

Finding a lawyer with expertise in malpractice cases could be challenging. However you can get recommendations from your family and friends and attorneys in other fields. You can also reach out to your state bar. Many bar associations provide search/referral services to help you find an experienced medical negligence attorney.

Chemical Exposure

Birth defects are often caused by chemicals that harm the fetus or mother. Many of these chemicals are present in the workplace where they are used to make items like plastics, paint, batteries and ceramic glazes. These chemicals can be consumed through inhalation, ingestion or simply absorbed through the skin. Certain of these chemicals are known to increase the risk for the development of birth defects, such as spina-bifida or other physical and psychological conditions.

These teratogen chemical agents can be contained in medications negligently prescribed by doctors, in chemicals employed in the workplace, such as those used in semiconductor "clean room" environments or in toxic chemicals that can contaminate the air and water of communities. The Thornton Law Firm has represented many parents whose children have been born with serious birth defects after the mothers were exposed to glycol ethers or coal ash, as well as pesticides at the place of work.

Contact an experienced New York birth injury lawyer for a free consultation today should you suspect that your child's birth defects were caused by medical negligence, a toxic exposure or dangerous drug during pregnancy. These claims are very time sensitive and there are strict time limits. An experienced attorney can determine if the child is able to file claims, and if it is best to file it through an agreement with a court or a settlement.

Product Liability

Many birth defects could be the result of a wrong prescription or exposure to chemicals. Parents are advised to contact an attorney for birth defects immediately if they believe that the child's condition is due to negligence in the medical field or exposure to dangerous drugs. These cases can be extremely complicated and time-sensitive.

Medical malpractice claims are usually caused by the environmental factors that lead to birth defects, such as incorrectly prescribed medications or drugs or inadequate care during pregnancy. Families should seek legal help as soon as they can since the statute of limitations for medical malpractice claims is only one year.

A lawsuit for a birth defect caused by medication could also be filed if the doctor was negligent in prescribing a medication to a mother. For example the doctor was not aware of the interaction of a drug with other medications that the woman may be taking or did not adequately inform her of the side effects. A Maryland lawyer for birth defects in medication can assist clients to recover damages when a doctor has acted negligently and causes a birth injury or birth defect.

A newborn who is suffering from a serious birth defect could be required to pay for extensive medical treatment, surgery, and therapy throughout the life of the child. A birth defect lawsuit defect lawyer who is well-informed and experienced can help parents determine if the medical condition of their child was caused by negligence at the hands of a doctor, a hazardous drug, or toxic exposure.