Birth Defect Attorney: 10 Things I'd Like To Have Known Earlier

What Causes a Birth Defect?

The last thing a new parent would like to be told is that their child may be born with a deformity. These problems may be caused by a variety of events that occur during pregnancy and can impact the mental or physical health of your child.

A doctor can detect birth Defect law Firms defects in pregnancy through prenatal testing or newborn screening. However other birth defects might not be detected until after the birth of your child or later, when they begin to show symptoms.

What Caused Your Child’s Defect?

Many birth defects remain undiscovered. There are several factors which can increase the chances of pregnant women having children with birth defect. One of them is taking certain medications or drugs prior to becoming pregnant or having an ancestral history of birth defects, or having certain medical conditions such as rheumatic disease. Women with an ancestry of these disorders are advised to consult an expert in genetic counseling about their options prior to getting pregnant.

The degree to which a birth defect causes serious issues or not will depend on the body part that is affected and how much of the body part is affected. Typically, the more severe the defect is and the more serious the issues will be.

Most birth defects are caused by genes or the environment during fetal development. You can reduce the chance of a birth deformity by speaking with a genetic counselor and learning about the health history of your family and talking with the geneticist.

Structural birth defects alter the way a part of your body appears or performs. They may be visible, like cleft lips and Cleft palettes, or they can be invisible, like chromosome issues or metabolic disorders. Genetically-inherited conditions can result in birth defects that cause structural changes. Environmental factors, such as the absence of folic acid can cause neural tube defects that lead to the development of the spinal or brain not functioning properly.

Get More Evidence than You Think You Can.

There are a variety of medical procedures that pregnant mothers can undergo to discover more about the possibility of a birth defect. Amniocentesis can be one of them, which is when a healthcare professional collects small amounts of fluid from the fetus for analysis. This procedure can reveal chromosomal changes in addition to other health conditions like infections (such as rubella or Zika) or genetic disorders.

A doctor can test the blood, amniotic liquid and the fetus’s tissues for signs of a birth defect. These tests are essential in diagnosing the root of birth defect. They can also assist in determining the severity of a birth defect will be and the effects it could be having on a child’s the years to come.

However certain birth defects could remain unnoticed until a child is born or, in rare instances, even as an adult. These problems are not easily identified until they become apparent, and often can only be diagnosed using diagnostic equipment. In these kinds of cases, it is crucial that the medical expert witness in question is familiar with these technologies and has the right experience to recognize these defects. An experienced medical malpractice lawyer will be able to identify the most suitable expert for your particular case.

Employ a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

A child born with a serious defect or a severe birth injury could completely alter the life of the family. These injuries can cause permanent physical and mental problems, requiring medical care for the rest of his life.

Medical science can pinpoint the underlying causes behind about 30 percent of birth defects others remain a mystery. Research has shown certain chemicals and substances, like those found in prescription or over-the-counter medications taken by a mother, toxic chemicals in the homes and communities as well as contaminated groundwater and air can cause birth defects.

Doctors are required to assess an expectant mother’s current medications, and advise her of any possible risks for the foetus. If they fail to perform this obligation, they could be held responsible for birth defects that are caused by medication.

Doctors are also required to determine the safety of any procedure or device they recommend for pregnant women. This includes x-ray equipment, surgical instruments and other equipment. If a doctor birth defect law Firms is negligent in using the equipment or fails properly calibrate the equipment, it could lead to grave consequences for the baby. This is considered to be malpractice. If this occurs you should contact a medical negligence attorney as soon as you can. In certain states, you’re only given one year to file a medical negligence case, so the faster you start the process the more favorable.

Begin by completing the first Step

Birth defects are the primary cause of infant mortality. They affect one in 33 babies each year. These issues can be life-threatening, and can result in long-term physical, cognitive and emotional problems. In some instances, researchers have identified the causes as a mother’s exposure to prescription or over-the counter drugs, toxins in the environment and maternal infections, the complications of pregnancy and birth, or medical history of the family (like genetic illnesses such as sickle cell disease, PKU). In the majority of cases, the cause is unknown.

Certain birth defects, such as hearing loss or clubfoot are easy to spot and can be diagnosed at birth or in the first year of a child’s existence. Other birth defects, such as heart defects or intellectual and developmental disabilities, aren’t as easy to identify and require special tests.

Researchers are trying to figure out the cause of birth defects and how they can be avoided. For example women who smoke or drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs during pregnancy increase the likelihood of having a child with certain birth defects. Women with a family history of inheritance genetic disorders should seek out a genetic counselor prior to trying to get pregnant. They should also use the March of Dimes family health history form to collect information about medical conditions that can be found in their families and discuss it with their doctor or genetic counselor.