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Where Will Birth Defect Attorney Be One Year From Now?
What Causes a Birth Defect?

The last thing that any expecting parent would like to hear is that their child could have a birth defect. These birth defects are caused things that occur during the fetal stage and could affect your child's mental or physical health.

Prenatal testing and newborn screening can be utilized by a doctor to determine the presence of certain birth defects that can occur during pregnancy. Other birth defects could only be detected after the birth of your child or if symptoms appear.

What caused your child's deformity?

Many birth defects remain undiscovered. There are a few factors that can increase the risk of a woman having a child with birth defect. These include using prescription drugs or taking certain medications prior to pregnancy, having a family member with birth defects or certain medical conditions, like rheumatic heart disease. Women with a history of these disorders should talk to a genetic counselor about their options prior getting pregnant.

The degree of birth defect in a child varies on the body part affected and how much is affected. Typically, the more severe the defect, the more severe the issues will be.

Most birth defects are caused either by genetics or the environment during fetal development. The risk of having a birth defect can be reduced by learning about your family's history with genes and health issues by speaking to a genetic counselor and following the prenatal care guidelines.

Structural birth imperfections are those that alter the way a part of your body appears or functions. They vary from the obvious such as cleft lips and cleft palate, to the invisible, like metabolic disorders or chromosome disorders. Genetic disorders that are inherited can be a type of structural birth defects. Environmental factors, like the absence of folic acid can cause neural tube defects that result in the development of the spinal or brain not functioning as it should.

Find More Evidence than You Think You Can.

There are a number of medical procedures pregnant women can undergo to find out more about possible birth defects. Amniocentesis is a prime example, in which a healthcare professional takes an insignificant amount of fluid from the fetus for examination. This procedure may reveal chromosomal mutations and other health conditions like infections (such as rubella or Zika) or genetic abnormalities.

A doctor can test the amniotic fluid, blood and tissues of a fetus for indications of a birth defect. These tests are essential in determining the causes of birth defects. They can also determine the severity of birth defect and its effect on the adult life of a child.

However certain birth defects may go undetected until a baby is born, or in rare cases, an adult. These problems are not easily identified until they are present, and may only be recognized with the help of diagnostic equipment. In these kinds of cases, it's crucial that the medical expert witness involved is well-versed in these technologies and has the appropriate knowledge to recognize these defects. A medical malpractice lawyer with expertise should be able to pinpoint the best expert for your case.

Employ a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

If a child is born with a severe birth defect or suffers from a severe birth injury, it could completely turn the world of a family upside down. These injuries can cause long-lasting physical and emotional challenges and often require ongoing medical treatment.

Medical science could explain up to 30% of birth defect cases, but many others are still a mystery. Research has revealed that certain chemicals and substances can cause birth defects, including those present in prescription or over the counter medicines that mothers are prescribed, the toxic chemicals at work in some communities and homes, or in contaminated air and groundwater.


Doctors are required to evaluate the dosage of medication taken by an expectant mother and inform her of any possible risks to the baby. If they fail to fulfill this obligation, they could be held accountable for birth defects caused by medication.

Doctors also have a responsibility to examine the safety of any procedure or equipment they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x-ray machines, surgical instruments, and other equipment. If a doctor negligently uses the equipment or fails properly calibrate the equipment, it could lead to serious consequences for the baby. This is considered to be malpractice. When this happens it is important to contact a medical negligence attorney as soon as possible. In some states you have only one year to file a complaint for medical malpractice, so it's best to begin the process as soon as possible.

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Birth defects affect 1 of 33 babies born each year and are a leading cause of infant death. birth defect law firm fort smith could be life-threatening and cause a myriad of mental, emotional and physical problems. In some instances, scientists have identified the cause to be a mother's exposure to prescription or non-prescription medications, toxins found in the environment, maternal infections, complications of pregnancy and delivery, or family medical history (like genetic diseases such as sickle cell disease, PKU). But in about 70% of all birth defects the cause is not known.

Certain birth defects, including hearing loss or a clubfoot are easy to detect and can be diagnosed at birth or within the first year of a child's existence. Other conditions, such as heart defects or developmental and intellectual disabilities, are not as obvious and require tests of a different kind.

Researchers are trying to discover the causes of birth defects and how some of they can be prevented. For instance, women who smoke or drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs during pregnancy increase the chance of having a baby with a defect. Women with a family history of inheritance genetic disorders should seek out a genetic counselor prior to trying to become pregnant. They should also utilize the March of Dimes family health history form to gather information about medical conditions that are prevalent in their families and discuss it with their doctor or genetic counselor.

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