Birth Defects and Medical Malpractice

In the United States, a baby is born with a defect that occurs every four and a quarter minutes. These defects can affect the lives of those affected for a lifetime.

Variations in the way cases are identified and classified could lead to over- or under-ascertainment of certain types of birth defects. A well-designed system can include active case assessment, including medical record abstraction and clinical review as well as passive reporting.

Causes

When the baby is born with a defect or injury, it can cause serious health problems for the child's future. Birth defects can result from medical errors or negligence of a doctor during pregnancy.

In certain cases birth defects can be prevented through prenatal care and good nutrition. In some cases birth defects may be caused by environmental factors, such as exposure to harmful chemicals or toxins. Birth defects may be the result of complications during pregnancy, including constriction of the uterus, rupture amniotic fluid's sac or a lack of oxygen in the fetus.

Some birth defects result from genetic diseases that run in families. They can be detected through an ultrasound or blood test. Some of these illnesses like PKU and sickle cell disease, can be treated or prevented. Other birth defects have no known cause and are known as congenital disorders or congenital anomalies.

Women over 30 and those of certain ethnicities have a higher chance of developing birth defects. Couples who have a similar family history of genetic illness may consider seeing a genetic counselor before trying to get pregnant. This will help couples determine if they need to undergo further testing. Screening tests for newborn babies can detect certain conditions, such as critical congenital heart defects, as well as certain infections that can be treated immediately.

Diagnosis

A birth defect is an abnormal growth that can affect any part of the body which affects the way organs function or the structure of the body. Birth defects can be identified by a healthcare professional during pregnancy, before birth or even in the early years of childhood. Some birth defects, like cleft lips, palates or craniofacial irregularities are easily visible. Other birth defects, however, aren't as obvious as congenital cardiac disease and biliary atresia (an obstructing of the duct, which transports an influx of bile to the liver).

Many birth defects can be detected through newborn screening tests which look for certain health problems. PKU congenital hypothyroidism and sickle Cell Disease are just a few of the conditions that can be identified through newborn screening tests. Newborn screening can also detect certain genetic diseases, such as Down syndrome. A healthcare professional can detect some birth defects through ultrasounds during pregnancy as well as blood tests, based on the kind of defect.

It is not always possible to pinpoint the cause of a birth defect. However the environment is often associated with. These include exposure to prescription or over the counter medicines, chemical substances that contaminate the water and air in communities, or complications that occur during pregnancy or delivery. Sometimes, birth defects or/>Despite recent advances in medical technology, birth defects and injuries remain a tragic fact. Fortunately many birth defects can be avoided. It is important to consult an experienced lawyer if you suspect that a birth defect may have been caused due to the negligence of medical experts. An empathetic and knowledgeable medical malpractice attorney can assist you in understanding your legal options and pursue compensation to cover your family's costs and losses.

Our team of highly experienced birth defect lawyers has years of experience handling cases involving wrongful births. We are a plaintiffs-only company and take pride in the level of service that we provide to our clients. We will relieve you of the burden so that you can focus on your child, and your family.

We can help you seek compensation for losses, including past and future medical expenses and income loss, punitive damages when necessary as well as emotional distress. Our lawyers will thoroughly investigate the situation and work hard to ensure that your family gets the best possible result.

Drug makers must thoroughly test their products before releasing their products to the market, and inform consumers of any possible side negative effects. If, however, your child's birth defect was caused by a drug you could file a product liability lawsuit with the help of a birth defects lawyer for drugs.