Birth Defects and Medical Malpractice

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

The way that cases are identified and classified could lead to an over- or under-ascertainment of certain types of birth defects. A well-designed system incorporates active case assessment, including medical record abstraction as well as a clinical review in addition to passive reporting.

Causes

If the baby is born with a defect or injury it can cause serious health problems for the child's future. Birth defects can be caused by an error in medicine or the negligence of a doctor during pregnancy.

In some cases, birth defects can be avoided with prenatal care and proper nutrition. In other cases they may be the result of environmental factors such as exposure to harmful chemicals or toxins. Birth defects can also be the result of complications that occur during pregnancy such as the uterine restriction rupture of the amniotic sac or the inability to supply oxygen to the fetus (also called anoxic brain injury).

Some birth defects are the result of genetic disorders that run in families. These can be identified with tests for blood or an ultrasound. Some of these diseases like PKU and sickle cell disease can be treated or prevented. Other birth defects are not known to have a cause and are known as congenital abnormalities or congenital disorders.

Women who are older than 30 and who belong to certain ethnicities have a higher chance of having birth defects. Couples with a similar history of genetic diseases might want to consult a genetic counsellor prior to trying to conceive. This can help couples decide whether they require additional testing. Screening tests for newborns can be used to detect certain conditions, such as congenital abnormalities that are critical, and certain infections that could be treated immediately.

Diagnosis

A birth defect is an abnormal growth that affects any body part, affecting the way that organs work or the structure of the body. Birth defects can be detected by a healthcare professional during pregnancy, at birth or in the early stages of childhood. Some birth defects, like palates, lips, or craniofacial abnormalities, are obvious. Others aren't as obvious as congenital heart disease and biliary atresia (an obstructing of the duct which carries the bile into the liver).

Many birth defect-related conditions can be identified through newborn screening tests that look for some kinds of health problems. These include PKU, congenital hypothyroidism and sickle cell disease. Newborn screening also checks for certain genetic diseases, such as Down syndrome. A healthcare provider can diagnose certain wyandotte birth defect attorney defects with ultrasounds during pregnancy as well as blood tests, depending on the kind of defect.

It's not always possible to know what caused a birth defect, however it is typically attributed to environmental factors. This can be due to exposure to prescription or over-the-counter medicines, chemical substances that pollute the air and water in communities or a problem during pregnancy or birth. Sometimes birth defects can be caused by a medical professional not taking the proper steps to prevent or treat a known medical disease. In these cases medical malpractice lawsuits can be pursued.

Treatment

When a birth defect has been identified, the options for treatment differ depending on the nature and severity of the condition. Certain defects can be corrected prior to the birth of a baby, while others may require surgery or other medical interventions after the child is born.

Many of the most common birth defects are chromosomal. resultant from the absence of or extra genes in a person's cells. They are typically passed down from the parents. The most common structural defects are cleft lips or neural tube defects and heart problems. These problems are caused by problems with the organ development of the baby, particularly in the first three months of pregnancy.

Screening tests may be performed during pregnancy or after strasburg birth defect attorney. They can also be performed later in life if signs begin to manifest. These tests can be performed through ultrasounds or blood tests. A person can also have an genetic test for birth defects to determine whether they are prone to a certain condition.

Preventing birth defects is not always easy. Some birth defects are caused by complications that can occur during pregnancy, whereas other can be linked to environmental factors. The consumption of tobacco, drugs or alcohol during pregnancy could result in birth defects. Some birth defects are also related to chemicals that can be found in the environment, including herbicides and pesticides such as Agent Orange used during the Vietnam War from 1962 to 1971.

Compensation

Despite the latest advances in medicine, birth injuries and defects remain an unfortunate fact. Many islamorada birth defect lawsuit defects can be prevented. If you have a child who has an anomaly in the birth process that could have been caused by the negligence of medical professionals, it is important to talk to an expert lawyer as soon as possible. A medical malpractice lawyer who is caring and knowledgeable can assist you in understanding the legal options available to you and help you seek compensation for your family's losses and expenses.

Our team of skilled birth defect lawyers have years of experience dealing with wrongful birth claims. We are a plaintiffs-only company and are proud of the level of service that we offer our clients. We'll help you get rid of the burden so that you can focus on your child, yourself and your family.

We can assist you in pursuing compensation for damages including future and past medical expenses and income loss, punitive damages in certain circumstances as well as emotional stress. Our lawyers will thoroughly investigate the situation and work hard to ensure that your family gets the best possible result.

Drug makers must ensure that their products are tested thoroughly before releasing them on the public, and they must inform consumers about any potential side effects. If, however your child's birth defect was due to a pharmaceutical drug you could file a product liability lawsuit with the assistance of a birth defects drug lawyer.