Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Attorney

Finding out that your child has a birth defect can make the joy of parenting into a harrowing experience. The majority of birth defects require lifelong medical treatment. This can lead to staggering financial costs.

A New York birth defects attorney can determine if the child's condition is due to medical negligence or toxic chemicals or drugs.

Causes of Birth Defects

You should contact a Long Island birth defect attorney as soon as you can if your child has a birth deformity that could have been prevented by a medical professional. A reputable lawyer can take care of the previous steps swiftly and efficiently, ensuring you can take time to grieve for your injured family member.

Birth defects can affect nearly every part of the fetus. They can cause physical problems as well as intellectual and developmental disabilities such as difficulty communicating or learning or having difficulties with tasks like walking or caring for oneself.

Some birth defects can be detected 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 detect birth defects by ultrasound of the fetus or magnetic resonance imaging.

Some birth defects can be caused by genetic factors such as abnormalities in the chromosomes and genes. These disorders can be passed down from parents or through mutations that occur in the DNA of the fetus at conception. A few of the more common genetic birth defects include trisomy 21, spina bifida and Tay-Sachs disease. A variety of other genetic birth defects have no known cause.

Medical Malpractice

It is possible to file a claim against a doctor for medical malpractice in the event that you or your child was injured due to a mistake by the health care provider. This includes the failure to recognize the problem, for example, a doctor who does not take the symptoms seriously, gives a wrong diagnosis, and is unable to begin the proper treatment, or fails to follow up with the results of tests. It can also include medication errors, such as a mistaken anesthesia diagnosis or giving too much medication or the wrong medication, and surgical errors.

Finding a lawyer who has experience in malpractice cases can be a challenge. But you can request recommendations from family members and close friends, as well as attorneys in other fields. You can also reach out to your state bar association. Most bar associations offer search/referral services to assist you in finding an experienced medical negligence attorney.

Chemical Exposure

Birth defects can be caused by dangerous chemicals that can harm the fetus's mother or the mother. Many of these chemicals are present in the workplace where they are used to create products like plastics, paints, batteries, and ceramic glazes. These chemicals are consumed through inhalation, ingestion or simply absorbed through the skin. Some of these toxins are believed to increase the likelihood of a child developing birth defects, such as spina-bifida, or other mental and physical ailments.

The teratogen chemical compounds can be found in drugs that are not prescribed by doctors, in chemical substances used in the workplace like those found in semiconductor "clean room" environments or in toxic substances that can pollute the air and water of communities. The Thornton Law Firm has represented parents whose children were born with birth defects that were serious after the mothers were exposed to glycol ethers, coal ash and pesticides at their work.

Contact an experienced New York birth injury lawyer for a free consultation now in the event that you believe the birth defect of your child was caused by medical negligence, a hazardous drug or exposure to toxic substances during pregnancy. These claims are extremely time sensitive and there are strict statutes of limitations. An experienced lawyer can determine if a child is entitled to make claims, and if it should be filed in either a settlement agreement or court.

Product Liability

Many birth defects are due to an incorrect prescription or exposure to chemicals. It is important for parents to speak with an attorney for birth defects immediately when they suspect that their child's illness was the result of medical negligence or dangerous medications. These cases can be extremely difficult and urgent.

Medical malpractice claims are usually due to environmental factors that can cause birth defects, for example, improperly prescribed medications or drugs or care that is inadequate during pregnancy. Families should seek legal advice immediately since the statute of limitations on medical malpractice claims is only one year.

A lawsuit based on a birth defect resulting from medication can also be filed when the doctor was negligent in prescribing medications to a mother. For instance, if the doctor did not understand the interactions of a medication with other medications the woman might be taking or did not adequately inform her about its potential side effects. A Maryland lawyer for birth defects in medication can assist clients in recovering damages when a doctor acts negligently and causes a birth injury or birth defect.

A family with a newborn with a serious birth defect can face enormous costs, including treatment, surgery and treatment for the rest of their child's life. A birth defect lawyer who is well-informed and experienced can assist parents determine if the medical condition of their child was caused by negligence in the medical field, a dangerous drug or toxic exposure.