Sam Rosson asked 2 weeks ago
What Causes a Birth Defect?
The last thing any expecting parent wants to hear is that their child may have a birth deformity. These birth defects are caused by the things that happen in the fetal period and can affect your child’s mental or physical health.
A doctor is able to detect some birth defects during pregnancy with prenatal tests or newborn screening. However, other birth defects may not be detected until after the birth of your child or a few years later when they show symptoms.
What caused your child’s deformity?
The root of many birth defects remains unknown. However, there are a few factors that increase the chance of having a child born with defects. This includes using medications or taking certain medications before the birth, having a family member who has birth defects or certain medical conditions like rheumatic heart disease. Women with a family history of these disorders are advised to speak with an expert on genetics prior to getting pregnant.
The extent to which a birth defect in a child causes serious issues or not is contingent upon which body part is affected and how much of the body part is affected. The more severe a birth defect, the more severe the problems.
The majority of birth defects are caused by genetics or the environment during the development of the fetus. The risk of having birth defects is reduced by knowing about your family’s history of health and genetic issues and speaking with an expert on genetics and following the guidelines for prenatal care.
Structural defects are birth problems that affect the way the body appears or performs. They vary from the obvious like cleft lip and cleft palate to the invisible, like metabolic disorders or chromosome disorders. Inherited genetic conditions can be a type of structural birth defect lawyer defects. Environmental factors, like an absence of folic acid can cause neural tube defects, which result in the development of the spinal cord and brain not working as intended.
Find More Evidence than You Think You Can.
There are a variety of medical procedures that a pregnant woman can undergo in order to find out more about the possibility of birth defects. Amniocentesis can be one of them, where a doctor collects small amounts of fluid from the fetus to conduct analysis. This procedure could reveal chromosomal variations as well as other health issues such as infections (such as rubella or Zika) or genetic disorders.
A doctor may also test a fetus’ blood amniotic fluid, fetal blood and the tissues of its umbilical cord for signs of birth defects. These tests are essential in determining the cause of birth defects. They also aid in determining the severity of the birth defect could be and the effect it may have on a child in his or her adult life.
However, some birth defects can be unnoticed until the baby is born, or in rare cases, as an adult. These issues are not readily apparent until they are present, and can sometimes only be diagnosed using diagnostic equipment. In these instances the medical expert witness should be acquainted with the technology and have the training necessary to identify the defects. A medical malpractice lawyer with expertise should be able to pinpoint the best expert for your case.
Hire an attorney who specializes in medical malpractice
A child born with a severe defect or severe birth injury could completely alter the life of the family. These injuries can cause lasting physical and mental health challenges that require medical attention for the rest of their lives.
Although medical science has been able to identify the causes of 30% of birth defects, others remain unsolved. Research has revealed that certain chemicals and substances may cause birth defects, like those found in prescription or over-the-counter medications that mothers use or the toxic chemicals at work in some communities and homes, or contaminated air and groundwater.
Doctors have a duty to assess an expectant mother’s current medications, and advise her of any potential risks to the baby. When they fail in this duty, they may be held responsible for birth defects that are caused by medications.
Doctors must also evaluate the safety and efficacy of any equipment or procedure they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x-ray equipment, surgical instruments and other equipment. This could result in serious consequences for a newborn baby when a doctor uses the equipment improperly or fails to calibrate it correctly. This is a case of malpractice. If this occurs you should speak with a medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible. In some states, you only have one year to file a medical negligence case, so the sooner you start the process the better.
Start with the First Step
Birth defects affect 1 in 33 babies born each year, and are a leading cause of infant mortality. The condition can be life-threatening and cause long-term cognitive, emotional, and physical problems. Researchers have in a few instances connected the causes of birth defects in mothers’ exposure to prescription or over-the-counter medicines and environmental toxins, complications of motherhood, infections, delivery and pregnancy or a family medical history or genetic illnesses (like sickle cell disease PKU, sickle cell disease, or other genetic diseases). However, in approximately 70% of birth defects cases, the causes are unknown.
Some birth defect law firms defects, like clubfoot or hearing loss, are easy to spot and can be identified at birth or in the first year of a child’s life. Other birth defects, such as heart defects or developmental and intellectual disabilities, aren’t as easy to identify and require tests that are specific to the condition.
Researchers are trying to figure out what causes birth defects and how them can be prevented. For instance smoking and drink alcohol or consume illegal drugs during pregnancy increase their chances of having a child with certain birth defects. Women with a family history that involves genetic disorders that are passed down through generations may wish to consult with a genetic counselor before trying to have a baby. They should also utilize the March of Dimes family health history form to collect data about medical conditions that can be found in their families and then share it with their doctor or genetic counselor.