What Causes a Birth Defect?

It's the last thing any expecting parents wants to hear: their child may be born with a defect. These problems could be the result of events that occur during growing up and could affect the mental or physical health of your child.

A doctor can identify birth defects during pregnancy using the prenatal test or newborn screening. However, other birth defects may not be identified until after your child is born or later, when they begin to show symptoms.

What Caused Your Child's Defect?

The cause of the majority of birth defects is still unknown. There are several factors that could increase the likelihood of a woman having a child with a birth defect litigation defect. These include using drugs or taking certain medications prior to pregnancy, having a relative with a birth defect or having certain medical conditions, such as rheumatic heart disease. Women with an ancestral history of these diseases are advised to consult a genetic counsellor before getting pregnant.

The degree to which a birth defect causes serious issues or not is contingent upon the body part that is affected and the extent of the body part is affected. The more serious a birth defect is, the greater the severity of the problems.

Most birth defects are caused by genes or the environment during the fetal growth. You can reduce the chance of a birth deformity by speaking with a genetic counselor as well as learning about the health history of your family and talking with the geneticist.

Structural birth imperfections are those that alter how a part of the body looks or works. They can range from visible like cleft lips and cleft palate to the invisible, like metabolic disorders or chromosome disorders. Genetic conditions that are passed down through the generations are one type of birth defect that is structural, while environmental factors like an absence of folic acids can lead to neural tube defects, which result in the brain or spinal cord not developing properly.

Get More Evidence than You Think You Can.

There are many medical procedures pregnant mothers may undergo to determine the cause of the possibility of a birth defect. Amniocentesis is one example, where a doctor collects small amounts of fluid from the fetus for testing. This procedure can reveal chromosomal abnormalities as well as other health conditions, such as infections (such as Zika or rubella) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor can examine the amniotic liquid, blood and the tissues of a fetus for signs of a birth defect. These tests are crucial in determining the root of birth defects. They also aid in determining how serious the birth defect could be and the consequences it could affect a child later in his or her adult life.

However certain birth defects could remain unnoticed until a child is born, or in rare instances, when an adult. These conditions aren't easily detected until they are present, and may only be recognized with the help of diagnostic equipment. In these instances, the medical expert witness must be familiar with the techniques and the training necessary to identify these defects. A seasoned medical malpractice lawyer should be able to identify the appropriate specialist for your particular case.

Employ a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

A child born with a serious defect or severe birth injury can drastically alter the life of the family. These injuries can cause long-lasting physical and emotional issues and often require the need for a lifetime of medical treatment.

Medical science can explain about 30 percent of birth defect litigation defects however, many other cases are still unsolved. Studies have shown that certain chemicals and substances, such as those in prescription or over-the-counter medicines taken by mothers, toxic chemicals in the homes and communities, or contaminated groundwater and air may cause birth defects.

Doctors must evaluate the dosage of medication taken by the mother-to-be and inform her of any potential risks to the foetus. If they fail to fulfill this duty, they may be held responsible for birth defects that are caused by medications.

Doctors are also required to assess the safety of any procedure or equipment they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x-ray machines surgical instruments, and other equipment. If a physician is negligent when using this equipment or fails to properly calibrate the equipment, it could have serious consequences for the baby. This would be considered medical malpractice. When this happens it is important to speak with a medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible. In some states, you only have one year to file a medical malpractice case, so the earlier you start the process, the more favorable.

Start with the First Step

Birth defects are the main reason for infant deaths. They affect one in 33 babies every year. The conditions are life-threatening and lead to many long term cognitive, emotional, and physical challenges. Scientists have, in some instances, linked the birth defects' causes to exposure to prescription or over-the-counter medicines, environmental toxins, maternal infections, complications during pregnancy and delivery and medical history of the family, or genetic illnesses (like sickle cell disease PKU, sickle cell disease, or other genetic illnesses). In about 70% of cases, the reason is not known.

Some birth defects, like hearing loss or clubfoot, are easy to spot and can be diagnosed at birth or within the first year of a child's existence. Other Birth defect Lawyer (http://www.restaurant-zahnacker.fr) defects, such as heart defects or developmental and intellectual disabilities aren't as obvious and require tests that are specific to the condition.

Researchers are trying to figure out the cause of birth defects and how they can be avoided. For example women who smoke and drink alcohol or consume illegal drugs during pregnancy increase their likelihood of having a child with certain birth defect attorney defects. Women who have a history of family members with inherited genetic disorders should seek out a genetic counselor prior birth defect lawyer to trying to get pregnant. They should also fill out the March of Dimes family health record form to gather information about medical conditions that can be found in their families and share it with their doctor or a genetic counselor.