Why No One Cares About Birth Defect Attorney

What Causes a Birth Defect?

The last thing a new parent wants to hear is that their child could have a birth deformity. These birth defects may be caused by a variety of the fetal growth and can affect the physical or mental health of your child.

Screening for newborns and prenatal tests can be utilized by a health professional to identify certain birth defects that can occur during pregnancy. However other birth defects could not be discovered until after your child's birth or later, when they begin to show symptoms.

What caused your child's deformity?

Many birth defects remain undiscovered. There are some things which can increase the chances of a woman having a child with birth defect legal defect. Some of these include using certain medications or taking certain drugs before becoming pregnant or having an ancestral history of birth defect law defects or having certain medical conditions such as rheumatic disease. Women with an established history of these diseases are advised to consult an expert in genetic counseling about their options prior to becoming pregnant.

The degree of birth defect in a child depends on the body part that is affected and the degree to which it is affected. Typically, the more severe the defect is, the more severe the issues will be.

The majority of birth defects are caused by genes or the environment during the fetal growth. The risk of having a birth defect can be reduced by learning about your family's history with genes and health issues or talking to a genetic counselor and following prenatal care guidelines.

Structural birth defects are those that change the way a part of your body appears or performs. They can range from the visible like cleft lip and cleft palate, to the invisible, such as metabolic disorders or chromosome problems. Genetic diseases that are passed down from generation to generation are a kind of structural birth defect, while environmental factors such as the lack of folic acid can lead to neural tube defects that cause spinal cord or the brain not developing properly.

Find More Evidence than You Think

There are several medical procedures pregnant women undergo to learn more about potential birth defects. Amniocentesis is one example, where a doctor collects an insignificant amount of fluid from the fetus for analysis. This test can reveal chromosomal abnormalities and other health conditions such as infections (such as Zika or rubella) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor can also examine the blood of a fetus or amniotic fluid as well as the tissues of its umbilical cord for indications of birth defects. These tests are crucial in diagnosing the root of birth defect. They also help determine the degree of a birth defect and its effect on a child's adult life.

However, some birth defects can be unnoticed until the baby is born or, in rare instances, Birth Defect Lawyers when an adult. This is due to the fact that these conditions aren't easily detected until they are present, and often can only be recognized with the help of diagnostic equipment. In these cases, it's crucial that the medical expert witness is familiar with these technologies and has the right training to be able to detect these flaws. A medical malpractice lawyer with experience should be able identify the best expert for your case.

Find an attorney for Medical Malpractice

If a child is born with a severe birth defect or suffers a devastating birth injury, it could completely turn a family's life upside down. These injuries can cause lasting physical and mental health challenges that require medical attention for a lifetime.

While medical science can identify the root causes of around 30 percent of birth defect legal defects, others remain unexplained. Studies have shown that certain chemicals and substances such as those in prescription or over-the-counter medications taken by a mother and toxic chemicals found in the homes and communities, or contaminated groundwater and air can cause birth defects.

Doctors are required to evaluate the medications taken by the expecting mother and inform her of any potential dangers to the embryo. If they fail in this duty, they may be held accountable for birth defects that are caused by medications.

Doctors are also required to assess the safety and efficacy of any equipment or procedure they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x-ray equipment, surgical tools, as well as other equipment. This could have serious consequences for a baby if a doctor uses the equipment in a negligent manner or does not calibrate it correctly. This is considered medical malpractice. It is important to speak with a medical malpractice lawyer as soon as you can should this happen. In some states, you have only one year to file a medical malpractice case, so the sooner you start the process, the better.

Take the First Step

Birth defects affect one out of 33 babies born every year and are a major reason for infant death. These conditions are life-threatening and cause a myriad of mental, emotional and physical difficulties. In some instances, scientists have identified the cause to be a mother's exposure to prescription or over-the-counter medications, toxins accumulated in the environment and maternal infections, the complications of pregnancy and birth, or medical history in the family (like genetic illnesses such as sickle cell disease, PKU). In about 70% of cases, the cause is not known.

Certain birth defects, such as hearing loss or a clubfoot are easily identifiable and can be diagnosed either at birth defect lawyers - link webpage - or during the first year of a child's life. Other conditions, such as heart defects or intellectual and developmental disabilities are not as obvious and require special tests.

Researchers are trying determine the cause of birth defects and how they can be prevented. Women who drink, smoke or consume illegal substances while pregnant are at a higher risk of having a child with certain defects. Women who have a family history of genetic disorders that are inherited may want to consult a genetic counsellor before trying to conceive. They may also use the March of Dimes Family Health History form to collect information about medical conditions that run through their families. This information should be shared with their doctor or genetic counselor.