What NOT To Do Within The Birth Defect Attorney Industry

What Causes a Birth Defect?

It's the last thing that an expecting parent would like to hear: Their child could be born with a birth defect. These issues may be caused by a variety of circumstances that occur during growing up and could affect the physical or mental health of your child.

birth defect law firm birmingham  and newborn screening can be utilized by a healthcare professional to detect certain birth defects that can occur during pregnancy. However other birth defects could not be diagnosed until after the birth of your child or a few years later when they show symptoms.

What Caused Your Child's Defect?

The root of many birth defects remains unknown. There are a few factors which can increase the chances of a woman having a child with birth defect. These include using drugs or taking certain medications prior to the birth, having a family member who has birth defects or certain medical conditions, like rheumatic heart disease. Women who have a family history of these disorders are advised to speak with an expert in genetic counseling prior to getting pregnant.

If a birth defect in a baby can cause serious health issues or not is dependent on which body part is affected and how much of the body part is affected. The more severe the defect is and the more serious the issues will be.

Most birth defects are caused by genes or the environment during the fetal development. You can reduce the chance of a birth deformity by consulting with a genetic counsellor, learning about the health background of your family and talking with the geneticist.

Structural defects are birth problems that affect the way a part of your body looks or performs. They vary from the obvious like cleft lips and cleft palate, up to the invisible, such as metabolic disorders or chromosome problems. Genetically-inherited conditions can be a type of birth defects that are structural. Environmental factors, for instance, an absence of folic acid can cause neural tube defects that lead to the development of the spinal cord or brain not being correct.

Gather More Evidence Than You Think

There are several medical procedures a pregnant woman can undergo to find out more about potential birth defects. Amniocentesis can be one of them, which is when a healthcare professional collects an insignificant amount of fluid from the fetus for testing. This procedure could reveal chromosomal variations as well as other health conditions like infections (such as rubella or Zika) or genetic disorders.

A doctor can test the amniotic fluid, blood and fetus's tissues for indications of a birth defect. These tests are essential to diagnosing the root of birth defect. They can also determine the extent of the birth defect and the impact it has on a child's life.

However certain birth defects may be missed until a baby is born or, in rare cases, an adult. This is because the conditions are not detectable until they are present and can sometimes only be recognized with the help of diagnostic equipment. For these kinds of situations, it is essential that the medical expert witness involved is familiar with these techniques and has the appropriate knowledge to recognize these defects. A seasoned medical malpractice attorney should be able to identify the appropriate specialist for your particular case.

Employ a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

If a child is born with a serious birth defect or suffers a severe birth injury, it can completely turn a family's life upside down. These injuries can lead to lifelong physical and emotional issues, often requiring ongoing medical treatment.

Medical science could explain up to 30 percent of birth defects but the rest remain unsolved. Research has revealed that certain chemicals and substances may cause birth defects, including those that are found in prescription or over-the counter medications that mothers use as well as the toxic chemicals that the heart of some communities and in homes, or the contaminating groundwater and air.

Doctors are required by law to analyze the medication used by an expectant mother and inform her of any possible risks for the embryo. If they fail to fulfill this duty, they may be held responsible for birth defects caused by medications.

Doctors also have a responsibility to assess the safety of any procedure or device they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x-ray machines, surgical instruments, and other equipment. This could cause serious harm for a newborn baby in the event that a physician uses the equipment in error or does not calibrate it properly. This is considered medical malpractice. If this happens it's crucial to speak with a medical malpractice lawyer as soon as you can. In certain states, you are only allowed one year to file a medical malpractice case, so the sooner you begin the process the more favorable.

Take the First Step

Birth defects are the primary cause of infant death. They affect one in 33 babies each year. The condition are life-threatening and cause a myriad of physical, emotional and cognitive problems. In some instances, researchers have connected the causes to mother's exposure to prescription or over-the-counter medications, toxins found in the environment and maternal infections, the complications of pregnancy and delivery or medical history of the family (like genetic illnesses like sickle cell diseases or PKU). In about 70% of cases, the reason is not known.

Some birth defects are easily noticeable and can be detected at birth or within the first year. Some birth defects, such as heart defects or intellectual and developmental disabilities require specific tests to determine the cause.

Researchers are trying determine what causes birth defects and how they can be prevented. For example, women who smoke or drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs during pregnancy increase the chance of having a baby with a defect. Women with a history of family members that includes inherited genetic disorders may want to consult a genetic counsellor prior to trying to be pregnant. They should also utilize the March of Dimes family health history form to collect data regarding medical conditions that run in their families and discuss it with their doctor or genetic counselor.