What Causes a Birth Defect?
It's not something that any expectant parent wants to hear: their child may have a birth defect. These defects are caused by factors that occur during fetal development and can affect your child's mental or physical health.
A health professional can detect birth defects during pregnancy with prenatal testing or newborn screening. Other birth defects can be discovered only after the birth of your child or if symptoms are evident.
What is the reason for your child's defect?
The root of many birth defects remains unknown. However there are some things that can increase the risk of having a baby with defects. Some of these include using certain medications or taking certain drugs prior to becoming pregnant or having an ancestral history of birth defects or having certain medical conditions, such as rheumatic diseases. Women with a family background of these disorders are advised to consult a genetic counselor prior to becoming pregnant.
The severity of a birth defect in a child is contingent on the affected body part and the degree to which it is affected. Typically, the more severe the defect is it, the more serious the problems will be.
Most Birth defect lawsuit (
hwajung.kr) defects are caused by genetics or the environment during the fetal growth. The risk of having a
birth defect can be reduced by learning about your family's history with genes and health issues, talking to a genetic counselor and following the guidelines for prenatal care.
Structural defects are birth imperfections that affect how a part of your body looks or performs. They can be obvious, such as cleft lips and cleft palettes, or invisible, like chromosome conditions or metabolic conditions. Genetic disorders that are inherited are a type of structural birth defect while environmental factors, such as the lack of folic acid can lead to neural tube defects that cause spinal cord or brain not developing properly.
Get More Evidence than You Think
There are a variety of medical procedures that pregnant mothers can undergo to learn more about the possibility of birth defects. Amniocentesis is one example, where a doctor collects small amounts of fluid from the fetus to conduct testing. This procedure can reveal chromosomal defects as well as other health issues like infections (such as Zika or rubella) or genetic anomalies.
A doctor can also test a fetus' blood, amniotic fluid and even the tissues of its umbilical cord for signs of birth defects. These tests are vital in diagnosing the root of birth defect. They can also assist in determining how serious a birth defect will be and the effect it may affect a child later in the years to come.
However certain birth defects could remain unnoticed until a child is born or, in rare cases, an adult. These conditions aren't easily detected until they have been identified, and may only be diagnosed using diagnostic equipment. For these kinds of cases, it is crucial that the medical expert witness in question is well-versed in these technologies and has the proper knowledge to spot these issues. A lawyer who has years of experience will be able to determine the most appropriate specialist for your case.
Hire 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 create life-long physical and psychological challenges, often requiring the need for a lifetime of medical treatment.
While medical science can identify the root causes of around 30 percent of birth defects,
birth defect lawsuit others remain unsolved. Research has revealed that certain chemicals and substances can cause birth defects, like those that are found in prescription or over-the counter medication that mothers take as well as the toxic chemicals that work in some communities and homes, or contaminated air and groundwater.
Doctors have a duty to examine a pregnant mother's current medications and advise her of any potential dangers to the baby. If they fail to fulfill this obligation, they could be held responsible for birth defects caused by medication.
Doctors are also required to determine the safety and efficacy of any procedure or equipment they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x-ray machines, surgical tools, and other equipment. If a physician is negligent when using this equipment or fails to properly calibrate the equipment, it could have grave consequences for the baby. This is considered medical malpractice. When this happens it is important to consult a medical malpractice lawyer as soon as you can. In some states, you're allowed only one year to file a complaint for medical malpractice which is why it's important to start the process as soon as possible.
Start with the First Step
Birth defects affect 1 in 33 babies born every year, and are the most common cause of infant mortality. These conditions could be life-threatening and cause a myriad of mental, emotional and physical problems. In some cases, scientists have linked the causes to a mother's exposure to prescription or over-the-counter medications, toxins accumulated in the environment, maternal infections, complications during pregnancy and delivery or medical history in the family (like genetic illnesses, sickle cell disease or PKU). But in about 70% of all birth defects the cause is unknown.
Certain birth defects, like hearing loss or clubfoot are easy to spot and can be identified at birth or in the first year of a child's life. Other
birth defect lawsuits defects, such as heart defects or developmental and intellectual disabilities aren't as easily identifiable and require specialized tests.
Researchers are trying to figure out the root of birth defects, and how they can be avoided. For example smoking, drink alcohol or take illegal drugs during pregnancy increase the likelihood of having a child with certain defects. Women who have a history of family members with inherited genetic disorders should think about seeing a genetic counselor before trying to become pregnant. They should also utilize the March of Dimes Family Health History form to gather information about medical conditions that run through their families. This information should be shared with their doctor or genetic counselor.