Birth Defects and Medical Malpractice

Every four and an hour, one baby in the United States is born with an anomaly in the birth process. These defects can alter the lives of those who are affected for the rest of their lives.

Different classifications and types of cases can result in an over- or underestimated number of birth defects. A well-designed system includes active case ascertainment, which includes medical record abstraction and a clinical review in addition to passive reporting.

Causes

A baby born with injuries or defects could be ill-health for a long time. Birth defects could be caused by medical errors or negligence of a doctor during pregnancy.

In some instances birth defects can be avoided through proper nutrition and prenatal care. In certain instances, birth defects can be caused through environmental factors like exposure to toxic chemicals or toxins. Birth defects can result from complications during pregnancy, like constriction of the uterus or rupture of the amniotic fluid sac or a lack of oxygen in the fetus.

Certain birth defects are caused by genetic diseases that run in families. These can be identified with tests for blood or an ultrasound. Certain illnesses can be treated or prevented with the help of a specialist, such as PKU sickle cell disease, and cleft lip and cleft palate. Some birth defects aren't recognized to be the cause. They are referred to as congenital disorders, or congenital abnormalities.

Women over 30 and those of certain ethnicities are at a higher chance of developing birth defects. Couples with the same genetic diseases may want to speak with a genetic counselor before attempting to get pregnant. This will help couples determine whether they should undergo further testing. Screening tests for newborns can be used to determine certain conditions, like congenital defects that are critical and certain infections that can be treated right away.

Diagnosis

Birth defects are abnormal growths that may affect any part of the human body. They can impact the way organs function, or the structure of a person. Healthcare professionals can detect birth defects during pregnancy or after the baby is born, or even during early childhood. Certain birth defects, such as palates, lips or craniofacial irregularities are visible. Others, however, are less obvious, such as congenital cardiac disease and biliary atresia (an obstructing of the duct, which transports an influx of bile to the liver).

Many birth defect issues can be identified by newborn screening tests which look for certain types of health issues. PKU Congenital Hypothyroidism and sickle Cell Disease are just a few of the conditions that can be detected through newborn screening tests. Newborn screening can also be used to detect genetic disorders such as Down syndrome. A healthcare professional can detect some birth defects by using ultrasounds during pregnancy as well as blood tests, based on the kind of defect.

It's not always it possible to pinpoint the cause of a birth defect, but it is typically linked to environmental factors. This can be due to exposure to prescription or non-prescription medications, chemical substances that can contaminate water and air in communities or a problem during pregnancy or birth. Sometimes, birth defects are the result because a physician failed to make the necessary steps to treat or prevent the occurrence of a medical condition. In these cases, a claim for medical malpractice could be pursued.

Treatment

Treatment options for a birth defect are based on the severity and nature of the defect. Some can be corrected before the baby is born, while others may require surgery or other medical interventions after the baby is born.

The most frequent birth defects are chromosomal, resulting from missing or extra genes that are present in the cells of a person. These are usually inherited from parents. Birth defects that are structural include things like cleft lip, neural tube defects and heart issues. These defects are caused by problems with the development of organs in the baby, particularly in the first three month of pregnancy.

Screening tests may be performed during pregnancy or after birth. They can also be done later in life, if symptoms start to appear. These tests can be performed via ultrasounds and blood tests. The patient can also undergo an inherited test for birth defects in order to determine if they are predisposed to a particular 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 specific environmental factors. Birth defects can be caused by use of alcohol, tobacco or other drugs during pregnancy. Certain birth defects could be caused by chemicals that are found in the environment. This includes pesticides as well as herbalicides such as Agent Orange, which was used during the Vietnam War between 1962 and 1971.

Compensation

Despite the recent advances in medical technology, birth defects and injuries remain a tragic fact. Fortunately, many birth defects are preventable. If you have a child who has an anomaly in the birth process that could have been caused by the negligence of medical professionals, it is important to speak to an expert lawyer as soon as you can. An empathetic and experienced medical malpractice lawyer can help you comprehend your legal options and pursue compensation to help cover the costs of your family and losses.

Our team of knowledgeable birth defect lawyers have years of experience in handling legal claims involving birth defects that are wrongful. Our firm is a plaintiff-only 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 you can concentrate on your child and your family.

We can assist you in obtaining compensation for any damages, including future and past medical expenses and lost income, as well as damages for punitive purposes in certain cases as well as emotional distress. Our lawyers will thoroughly research the situation and work hard to ensure that your family gets the best possible result.

Drug makers are required to ensure that their products are tested thoroughly before releasing them on the market and Birth Defect warn consumers of the potential adverse effects. If your child's birth defect was caused by a pharmaceutical medication you may be able to bring a lawsuit for product liability with the assistance of a birth defects lawyer for drugs.