Birth Defects and Medical Malpractice

In the United States, a baby is born with a defect that occurs every four and quarter minutes. These birth defects can have a lifelong effect on the lives of the affected.

Variations in the way cases are identified and classified could lead to either under or over-ascertaining certain subtypes of birth defects. A well-designed surveillance system employs active case ascertainment (including medical record abstraction and clinical review) in addition to passive reporting.

Causes

When a baby is born with a defect or injury, it can cause serious health issues for birth Defects the child for life. Birth defects are often caused by medical error or mistake made by a doctor during pregnancy.

In certain cases, birth defect attorney defects can be prevented by prenatal care and the right nutrition. In some instances, birth defects can be caused by environmental factors, such as exposure to toxic chemicals or toxic substances. birth defect law firm defects can also be caused by complications that occur during pregnancy like uterine constraint, rupture of the amniotic sac, or the lack of oxygen to the foetus (also known as anoxic brain injury).

Some birth defects are caused by genetic illnesses that are passed down through families. These can be diagnosed with a blood test or ultrasound. Some of these illnesses can be treated or prevented like PKU sickle cell disease, and cleft lip and palate. Other birth defects have no reason and are classified as congenital disorders or congenital anomalies.

Women who are over 30 and are of certain ethnicities have an increased risk for some birth defects. Couples with the same history of genetic disorders may want to consult a genetic counsellor prior to trying to get pregnant. This will help couples determine whether they should undergo additional testing. Screening tests for newborns can help identify certain ailments, such as critical congenital heart defects and certain infections, that can be treated as soon as they are identified.

Diagnosis

Birth defects are abnormal growths that can affect any part of the human body. They can impact organ function or the structure of the person. A healthcare professional can spot birth defects during pregnancy, after a baby is born, or even during the early years of childhood. Some birth defects are visible such as cleft lips and craniofacial anomalies or palates while others are less evident, such as congenital heart disease and biliary atresia (an obstruction of the duct that transports the bile into the liver).

Many birth defects are detected through newborn screening tests that look for specific health problems. These include PKU, congenital hypothyroidism as well as sickle cell disease. Newborn screening also looks for certain genetic diseases, such as Down syndrome. A healthcare provider can diagnose some birth defects through ultrasounds during pregnancy and blood tests, depending on the type of defect.

It may not always be possible to determine the cause of birth defects, but it is typically attributed to environmental factors. This can include exposures to prescription or over the counter medications, chemical substances contaminating air and water in communities, or complications that occur during pregnancy or during delivery. Sometimes, birth defects are the result of a doctor failing to take appropriate measures to prevent or treat a known medical problem. In these situations the possibility of a claim for medical malpractice might be filed.

Treatment

If a birth defect is identified, the options for treatment vary depending on the type and severity of the issue. Certain birth defects can be fixed before the baby is born. Others might require medical or surgical intervention following the birth of the baby.

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. Structural birth defects include things like cleft lips and neural tube defects, as well as heart problems. These birth defects are caused by issues with the baby's organ development, particularly in the first three month of pregnancy.

Screening tests for birth defects can be conducted during pregnancy, after a baby is born, or later in life when symptoms start to appear. The tests can be conducted by ultrasounds or blood tests. One can also take an inherited test for birth defects to see whether they are susceptible to a particular condition.

Preventing birth defects is not always easy. Certain birth defects are caused by complications that can occur during pregnancy, whereas others can be traced to environmental factors. The use of tobacco, drugs or alcohol during pregnancy can result in birth defects. Some birth defects are also due to 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 recent advances in medicine, birth defects and birth defects injuries remain a tragic fact. Fortunately many birth defects can be prevented. It is imperative to consult an experienced lawyer if you suspect birth defects could have been caused due to the negligence of medical professionals. A compassionate and experienced medical malpractice attorney can help you understand your legal options and seek compensation to cover your family's costs and losses.

Our team of experienced birth defect lawyers have years of experience dealing with cases of birth defects that are not correct. We are a plaintiffs-only firm and are proud of the quality of service we provide our clients. We'll take the burden off your shoulders so that you can concentrate on your child and your family.

We can help you seek compensation for damages such as future and past medical expenses, loss of income, punitive damages in some instances as well as emotional stress. Our lawyers will investigate your case and work hard to achieve the best result for your family.

Drug makers must test their products thoroughly before releasing their products to the market, and inform customers about any possible side effects. If your child's birth defects resulted from a pharmaceutical drug, you can start a lawsuit against the manufacturer with the assistance of a birth defect drug lawyer.