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Birth Defects and Medical Malpractice

Every four and a half minutes, one baby in the United States is born with an anomaly in the birth process. These defects can alter the lives of those affected for a lifetime.

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

Causes

When the baby is born with an injury or defect it can cause serious health problems for the child's future. Birth defects are often caused by a medical mistake or a mistake made by a doctor during pregnancy.

In some instances birth defects can be prevented by prenatal care and the right nutrition. In other instances they could be caused by environmental factors such as exposure to harmful chemicals or toxic substances. Birth defects can also be the result of complications that happen during pregnancy like the uterine restriction rupture of the amniotic sac, or a lack of oxygen to the foetus (also known as anoxic brain injury).

Certain birth defects are the result of genetic diseases that run in families. They can be identified by an ultrasound test or a blood test. Some of these diseases, such as PKU and sickle cell disease, can be treated or prevented. Other birth defects are not known to have a origin and are referred to as congenital anomalies or congenital disorders.

Women who are over 30 and those of certain ethnicities have an increased risk for some birth defect Attorney defects. Couples who have a similar family history of genetic illnesses may consider seeing a genetic counselor before trying to become pregnant. This will help them determine if further tests are required. Screening tests for newborns can reveal certain conditions, like critical congenital heart defects, as well as certain infections, that can be treated right away.

Diagnosis

Birth defects are abnormal growths that could affect any part of the human body. They can alter the way organs function, or the structure of the person. Birth defects can be detected by a medical professional during pregnancy, before birth or in early childhood. Some birth defects are visible like cleft lips or palates, or craniofacial disorders however others are more obvious, such as congenital heart disease and biliary atresia (an obstruction of the duct that transports the bile into the liver).

Many birth defect lawsuit defect issues can be diagnosed through newborn screening tests which look for a variety of health problems. These include PKU, congenital hypothyroidism, and sickle cell disease. Newborn screening also checks for certain genetic disorders, like Down syndrome. A doctor can detect certain birth defects with ultrasounds during pregnancy and blood tests, based on the kind of defect.

It is not always possible to determine the cause of a birth defect. However environmental factors are usually involved. This may include exposure to prescription and over-the-counter medications, chemical substances contaminating the air and water of communities or complications during pregnancy or the birth. Other times birth defects could be caused by a medical professional failing to take the appropriate measures to prevent or treat a known medical condition. In these instances medical malpractice lawsuits can be pursued.

Treatment

Treatment options for a recognized birth defect are based on the severity and nature of the defect. Some of them can be fixed before the baby is born while others may require surgery or other medical interventions following the birth of the child.

The most frequent defects are the chromosomal. These are caused by missing or extra genes within cells of a person. They are typically inherited from the parents. Structural birth defects are things like cleft lip and neural tube defects, as well as heart problems. These birth defects are caused by problems with the development of the baby's organs especially in the first three months of pregnancy.

Screening tests for birth defects may be performed during pregnancy, after a person is born or later in life when symptoms begin to show. These tests can be performed via ultrasounds and blood tests. One can undergo genetic test for birth defects to determine if they are predisposed to a specific condition.

Preventing birth defects isn't always easy. Some are caused by issues that occur during a woman's pregnancy while others can be traced to certain environmental factors. Birth defects are often caused by the use of tobacco, alcohol or other drugs during pregnancy. Some birth defects are also linked to certain chemicals that are present in the environment, such as herbicides and pesticides, for instance as Agent Orange used during the Vietnam War from 1962 to 1971.

Compensation

Despite the latest advances in medicine birth injuries and defects persist as an unfortunate fact. Many birth defects can be prevented. It is imperative to consult an experienced lawyer if you suspect a birth defect may be due to the negligence of medical professionals. A medical malpractice lawyer who is compassionate and knowledgeable can assist you in understanding the legal options that are available to you and seek compensation for the loss of your family as well as expenses.

Our team of skilled birth defect lawyers has many years of experience handling cases involving wrongful births. Our firm is a solely plaintiff-only law practice and we are proud 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 entire family.

We can help you pursue compensation for damages such as future and past medical expenses, loss of income, punitive damages, in some cases, and emotional distress. Our lawyers will thoroughly investigate your case and will work tirelessly to ensure the most favorable outcome for your family.

Drug manufacturers must thoroughly test their products before releasing their products to the market, and warn consumers about any possible adverse effects. If, however your child's birth defect was caused by a pharmaceutical medication you could file a product liability lawsuit with the help of a birth defects lawyer for drugs.