Birth Defects and Medical Malpractice

Every four and half minutes, a 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 a lifetime.

Different classifications and methods of identifying cases may result in an under- or overestimated number of birth defects. A well-designed surveillance system uses active case ascertainment (including medical record abstract and clinical review) in addition to passive reporting.

Causes

A baby born with an injury or defect could cause long-term health issues. Birth defects are often the result of medical error or negligent doctor during pregnancy.

In some instances birth defects can be prevented through the prenatal care and a healthy diet. In other instances they may result from environmental factors such as exposure to dangerous chemicals or toxic substances. Birth problems can be caused by complications during pregnancy, such as uterine constriction, rupture of amniotic fluid's sac or a lack oxygen to the fetus.

Certain birth defects result from genetic diseases that are passed down through families. They can be identified by a blood test or ultrasound. Certain illnesses are treatable or preventable like PKU sickle cell disease, and cleft lip and cleft palate. Certain birth defects aren't identified as a cause. They are referred to as congenital disorders, also known as congenital anomalies.

Women who are over 30 as well as women of certain ethnicities are at an increased risk of birth defects. Couples who have a similar family history of genetic illnesses may consider seeing a genetic counselor prior to trying to become pregnant. This will help couples determine whether they'll need further testing. Screening tests for newborn babies can detect certain conditions, like critical congenital heart defects and certain infections, which are treatable immediately.

Diagnosis

A birth defect is an abnormal growth that affects any part of the body which can affect the way organs work or the structure of the body. Birth defects can be spotted by a healthcare professional during pregnancy, at birth or in the early stages of childhood. Certain birth defects, like palates, lips or craniofacial anomalies, are visible. Others are less obvious, such as congenital heart disease or biliary atresia (an obstruction of the duct that carries an influx of bile to the liver).

Many birth defects can be identified through newborn screening tests, which look for certain health problems. These include PKU, congenital hypothyroidism as well as sickle cell disease. Newborn screening also looks for certain genetic diseases like Down syndrome. A doctor can detect certain birth defects with ultrasounds during pregnancy and blood tests, depending on the type of defect.

It's not always it possible to pinpoint the cause of the birth defect, but it is often associated with environmental factors. This can be due to exposure to prescription or over-the-counter medications, chemical substances that can contaminate the air and water in communities or a problem during pregnancy or the birth. Sometimes, birth defect lawsuit defects arise due to a medical professional failing to take the proper steps to treat or prevent a known medical condition. In these cases medical malpractice lawsuits can be pursued.

Treatment

Treatment options for a suspected birth defect can vary based on the severity and type. Some of them can be fixed before the baby is born, while others might require surgery or other medical procedures following the birth of the child.

The most frequent birth defects are chromosomal. due to missing or additional genes that are present in the cells of a person. These are often inherited from parents. These include cleft lips or neural tube defects and heart issues. These defects are caused due to problems with the organ development of the baby particularly during the first three month of pregnancy.

Screening tests for birth defects may be conducted during pregnancy, after a baby is born or later in life when symptoms begin to show. These tests can be done by ultrasounds or blood tests. A person can have a genetic test for birth defects to determine if they're predisposed to a particular disease.

It's not always easy to avoid birth defects. Some are due to complications that arise 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 lead to birth defects. Some birth defects can be attributed to chemicals that are present in the environment. These include pesticides and herbalicides, such as Agent Orange, which was used during the Vietnam War between 1962 and 1971.

Compensation

Despite recent advances in medicine birth injuries and defects remain a tragic fact. Many birth defects can be prevented. It is important to consult an experienced lawyer if you suspect that birth defects could have been caused due to the negligence of medical professionals. An empathetic and knowledgeable medical malpractice attorney will help you understand your legal options and seek compensation to cover your family's expenses and firm losses.

Our team of knowledgeable birth defect lawyers have years of experience handling wrongful birth claims. We are a plaintiffs-only firm and are proud of the level of service that we offer our clients. We will relieve you of the burden so that you can concentrate on your child and your entire family.

We can assist you in seeking compensation for damages, including past and future medical costs, lost income, damages for punitive purposes in certain 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 manufacturers must thoroughly test their products before releasing them on the market, and inform consumers about any potential side effects. If your child's birth defect was due to a pharmaceutical drug you could start a lawsuit based on product liability with the assistance of a birth defects lawyer for drugs.