Birth Defects and Medical Malpractice
In the United States, a baby is born with a defect that occurs every four and quarter minutes. These birth defects can impact the lives of those who are affected for the rest of their lives.
Different classifications and identifiers of cases can result in an under- or overestimated number of birth defects. A well-designed system incorporates active case assessment, including medical record abstraction and clinical review, in addition to passive reporting.
Causes
A baby born with an injury or defect could be ill-health for a long time. Birth defects can result from medical negligence or a mistake of a doctor during pregnancy.
In some cases, birth defects can be avoided through prenatal care and good nutrition. In other instances they may be the result of environmental factors like exposure to harmful chemicals or toxic substances. birth Defect attorneys problems can be caused by complications during pregnancy, such as constriction of the uterus or rupture of the amniotic sac or a lack of oxygen to the foetus.
Certain birth defects result from genetic diseases that run in families. These are easily identified through tests for blood or an ultrasound. Some of these ailments can be prevented or treated, such as PKU sickle cell disease, and cleft lip and cleft palate. Other birth defects have no reason and are classified as congenital anomalies or congenital conditions.
Women over 30 and women of certain ethnicities have a higher chance of developing birth defects. Couples with the same history of genetic disorders may want to speak with a genetic counselor prior to trying to conceive. This will aid them in determining if further testing is required. Screening tests for newborns can be used to determine certain conditions, like critical congenital defects and certain infections that could be treated immediately.
Diagnosis
Birth defects are abnormally shaped growths that can affect any part of the human body. They can affect organ function or the structure of the person. Healthcare professionals can detect birth defects during pregnancy, after a baby is born, or even during early childhood. Some birth defects are visible, like cleft lips and craniofacial abnormalities, while others are less conspicuous such as congenital heart disease and biliary atresia (an obstruction of the duct that carries the bile into the liver).
Many birth defects are diagnosed through newborn screening tests, which are designed to detect certain health issues. These include PKU, congenital hypothyroidism and sickle cell disease. Newborn screening is also used to detect genetic diseases like Down syndrome. Certain birth defects can easily be identified by a healthcare provider through ultrasounds and blood tests during pregnancy, based on the defect.
It may not always be possible to know what caused the birth defect, but it is often associated with environmental factors. This can include exposures to prescription or over-the-counter medicines, chemical substances that contaminate the air and water of communities, or complications that arise during pregnancy or delivery. Sometimes, birth defects occur due to a medical professional failing to make the necessary steps to prevent or treat an existing medical condition. In these instances it is possible to file a lawsuit for medical malpractice could be pursued.
Treatment
When a birth defect is recognized, the treatment options differ based on the type and severity of the defect. Some defects can be addressed before the birth of a baby, while others may require surgery or other medical procedures following the birth of the child.
Most of the most prevalent problems are chromosomal. They are caused by missing or excess genes in the cells of a person. These are typically passed down from parents. Structural birth defects are things like cleft lips and neural tube defects, as well as heart problems. These problems are caused by problems with the baby’s organ development especially in the first three month of pregnancy.
Screening tests for birth defects may be performed during pregnancy, after a person is born, or later on in life when symptoms begin to appear. The tests can be conducted via ultrasounds or blood tests. A person can have a genetic testing for birth defects to determine if they are predisposed to a particular disease.
It’s not always easy to prevent birth defect attorney defects. Certain birth defects are caused by complications that can occur during pregnancy, while others can be traced back to environmental factors. The use of tobacco, drugs or alcohol during pregnancy may result in birth defects. Some birth defects can also be due to chemicals that are found in the environment, such as herbicides and pesticides such as Agent Orange used during the Vietnam War from 1962 to 1971.
Compensation
Despite recent advances in medicine, birth defect lawsuits defects as well as injuries are still a devastating reality. Many birth defects can be avoided. If you have a child with an issue with their birth that could have been caused by the negligence of medical professionals, it is important to speak to an experienced lawyer as quickly as possible. A compassionate and experienced medical malpractice lawyer can help you understand your legal options and seek compensation to help cover the costs of your family and losses.
Our team of experienced birth defect lawyers has many years of experience in settling the claims of wrongful birth. Our firm is a solely plaintiff-only law practice and we pride ourselves on the quality of service we provide to our clients. We’ll help you get rid of the burden so that you can concentrate on your child, yourself and your family.
We can help you obtain compensation for damages, such as future and past medical expenses and lost income, as well as punitive damage in some cases, and emotional distress. Our attorneys will thoroughly investigate the situation and work hard to ensure that your family gets the best possible outcome.
Drug makers must test their products thoroughly before releasing their products to the market, and also warn consumers about any potential side negative effects. If, however, your child’s birth defect was caused by a drug, you could make a claim for product liability with the help of a birth defects lawyer for drugs.