Birth Defect Attorneys: 11 Thing You're Leaving Out
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 birth defects can impact the lives of those who are affected for the rest of their lives.
The way that cases are identified and classified can result in an over- or under-ascertainment of certain birth defects that are subtypes. A well-designed system can include active case ascertainment, which includes medical record abstraction and a clinical review, in addition to passive reporting.
Causes
If a baby is born with a defect or injury it can have serious health effects on the child for life. Birth defects could be caused by an error in medicine or the negligence of a doctor during pregnancy.
In some instances, birth defect is prevented by taking care of your baby and eating well. In other cases they may be caused by environmental factors like exposure to harmful chemicals or toxins. Birth defects may also be caused by complications that happen during pregnancy like the uterine limit rupture of the amniotic sac, or a lack of oxygen to the foetus (also called anoxic brain injury).
Some birth defects are caused by genetic disorders that are passed down through families. These are easily identified through a blood test or an ultrasound. Certain illnesses can be treated or prevented by a doctor, for example PKU as well as sickle cell diseases and cleft lip and cleft palate. Certain birth defects aren't known to be the cause. They are known as congenital disorders, also known as congenital anomalies.
Women over 30 and those of certain ethnicities are at a higher chance of having birth defects. Couples with a similar family history of genetic diseases might want to consult a genetic counselor before trying to become pregnant. This will help couples determine if they need to undergo further tests. Newborn screening tests are able to detect certain conditions, like critical congenital defects and certain infections that can be treated immediately.
Diagnosis
A birth defect is an abnormal growth that affects any body part which can affect the way organs work or the structure of the body. Birth defects are often detected by a medical professional during pregnancy, during birth or in early childhood. Certain birth defects are obvious such as cleft lips and craniofacial anomalies or palates however others are more obvious, such as congenital heart disease and biliary atresia (an obstruction of the duct carrying the bile into the liver).
Many birth defects are detected by newborn screening tests which look for certain health issues. These include PKU, congenital hypothyroidism, and sickle cell disease. Newborn screening can also detect certain genetic diseases like Down syndrome. Certain birth defects can easily be identified by a medical professional through ultrasounds and blood tests during pregnancy, based on the type of defect.
It's not always certain what caused the birth defect, but it is typically attributed to environmental factors. This can be due to exposure to prescription or over-the-counter drugs, chemical substances that contaminate water and air in communities, or complications during pregnancy or delivery. Sometimes, birth defects happen because a physician failed to take the proper steps to prevent or treat an illness that is known to be medically prone. In these instances, a claim for medical malpractice could be pursued.
Treatment
If a birth defect is discovered, the treatment options differ depending on the nature and severity of the condition. Certain birth defects can be rectified before the baby is born. birth defect law firm pearland may require medical intervention or surgery following the birth of the baby.
Some of the most common defects are chromosomal. They are caused by missing or extra genes in a person’s cells. These are often inherited from parents. Structural birth defects are things like cleft lips and neural tube defects, as well as heart problems. These defects are caused by problems with the development of organs in the baby especially in the first three month of pregnancy.
Screening tests for birth defects can be done during pregnancy, after a person is born or later in life when symptoms start to appear. The tests can be conducted by ultrasounds or blood tests. One can undergo genetic testing for birth defects to determine if they are predisposed towards a particular condition.
Preventing birth defects is not always easy. Some are due to complications that occur during a woman's pregnancy while others can be traced back to environmental factors. The consumption of tobacco, drugs or alcohol during pregnancy may cause birth defects. Certain birth defects are related to chemicals that are present in the environment, including pesticides and herbicides, such as Agent Orange used during the Vietnam War from 1962 to 1971.
Compensation
Despite recent advances in medicine birth injuries and defects are an unfortunate fact. Many birth defects can be avoided. If you have a child who has a birth defect that may have been caused by the negligence of medical professionals, it is important to speak to an experienced lawyer as quickly as possible. A compassionate and experienced medical malpractice attorney will help you understand your legal options and seek compensation to cover your family's costs and losses.

Our team of skilled birth defect lawyers have years of experience in handling wrongful birth cases. Our firm is a solely plaintiff-only law practice, and we take pride on the excellent service we offer to our clients. We will relieve you of the burden so that you can concentrate on your child and your family.
We can help you seek compensation for any damages, including future and past medical expenses and lost income, as well as punitive damages in certain instances as well as emotional stress. Our attorneys will thoroughly investigate your case and then work to achieve the best result for your family.
Drug manufacturers must ensure that their products are tested thoroughly before releasing them onto the public, and they must inform customers about any possible side consequences. If your child's birth defects were caused by a pharmaceutical drug, you may start a lawsuit against the manufacturer with the assistance of a birth defect drug lawyer.