What Causes a Birth Defect?
The last thing a expecting parent would like to learn is that their child may have a birth defect. These birth defects are caused by things that happen in the fetal period and can affect your child's physical or mental health.
Prenatal screening and newborn screening can be used by a health care provider to detect certain birth defects that can occur during pregnancy. However other birth defects could not be identified until after the baby is born or later, when they begin to show symptoms.
What caused your child's deficiency?
Many birth defects remain undiscovered. However, there are a few things that increase the risk of having a child born with a defect. Some of these include using certain medications or taking certain drugs before getting pregnant or having a family history of birth defects or having medical conditions such as rheumatic disease. Women with an history of these conditions should talk to an expert on genetic counseling about their options prior getting pregnant.
The extent to which a birth defect in a child causes serious issues or not depends on the body part that is affected and how much of the body part is affected. Typically, the more severe the defect is it, the more serious the problems will be.
The majority of birth defects are caused by genes or the environment during fetal growth. The risk of having birth defects can be reduced by gaining knowledge about your family's history of genes and health issues, talking to an expert on genetics and following prenatal guidelines.
Structural defects are birth defects that affect the way a part of your body appears or functions. They can be obvious, like cleft lips or cleft palettes. They can also be invisible, like chromosome conditions or metabolic conditions. Inherited genetic conditions can be a type of birth defects that are structural. Environmental factors, for instance, the absence of folic acid can cause neural tube defects that result in the development of the spinal cord or brain not functioning properly.
Find More Evidence Than You Think
There are many medical procedures pregnant women undergo to discover more about potential birth defects. Amniocentesis is one example, in which a healthcare professional takes small amounts of fluid from the fetus to conduct analysis. This procedure can reveal chromosomal defects, as well other health issues like infections (such as Zika or rubella) or genetic anomalies.
A doctor can test the amniotic fluid, blood and the fetus's tissues to determine if there are signs of birth defect. These tests are essential to diagnosing the root of a birth defect. They can also assist in determining how serious a birth defect could be and the consequences it could be having on a child's the years to come.
However, some birth defects can be missed until a baby is born, or in rare cases, an adult. This is due to the fact that these problems are not easily identified until they are present and often can only be diagnosed using diagnostic equipment. In these cases the medical expert witness must be familiar with the latest technologies and possess the education required to recognize these issues. An experienced medical malpractice attorney can help you identify the most appropriate expert for your particular case.
Hire a Medical Malpractice Lawyer
When a child is born with a severe
birth defect or suffers a devastating birth injury, it could completely turn a family's world upside down. These injuries can cause life-long physical and emotional challenges that often require the need for a lifetime of medical treatment.
Medical science could explain up to 30 percent of
birth defect attorneys defects but the rest are still unsolved. Studies have shown that certain chemicals and substances may cause birth defects, such as those that are found in prescription and over-the-counter medications that mothers use, the toxic chemicals at the heart of some communities and homes, or in contaminated groundwater and air.
Doctors are required to evaluate the medications taken by the mother-to-be and inform her of any potential risks for the foetus. If they fail to perform this obligation, they could be held accountable for birth defects that are caused by medication.
Doctors also have the responsibility to assess the safety of any procedure or device they recommend for pregnant women. This includes x-ray machines, surgical instruments, and other equipment. This could cause serious harm for a baby should a doctor use the equipment in error or does not calibrate it correctly. This is a case of malpractice. It is important to get in touch with a medical malfeasance lawyer immediately when this happens. In certain states, you have only one year to file a lawsuit for medical malpractice and it's recommended to begin the process as soon as you can.
Step 1. Step
Birth defects are the most common cause of infant mortality. They affect one in 33 babies every year. These issues are life-threatening, and can trigger lasting physical, cognitive and emotional challenges. In a few instances, scientists have identified the cause to be a mother's exposure to prescription or non-prescription drugs, toxins in the environment and maternal infections, the complications of pregnancy and delivery or a medical history of the family (like genetic illnesses like sickle cell diseases or PKU). However, in the majority of birth defect cases the cause is not known.
Certain birth defects, including hearing loss or clubfoot are easy to detect and can be detected from birth or within the first year of a child's life. Others, such as heart problems or intellectual and developmental disabilities are not as obvious and require specialized tests.
Researchers are trying to figure out the cause of birth defects and how they can be prevented. For example smoking, drink alcohol or take illegal drugs during pregnancy increase the chance of having a baby with a defect. Women who have a family history of inheritance genetic disorders should seek out a genetic counselor before trying to get pregnant. They should also fill out the March of Dimes family health history form to collect information about medical conditions that can be found in their families and discuss it with their doctor or a genetic counselor.