Texas Birth Defect Lawyer – Texas Birth Defect Lawsuit
If you or a loved one had a baby suffering from certain birth defects after taking a particular pharmaceutical drug you may be entitled to financial compensation from the manufacturer. If you had a baby suffering from birth defects because of the negligence of a doctor, you also may be entitled to compensation. Call us today to get the facts. Toll Free 1-866-777-2557 or use our online contact form and a Texas Birth Defect Lawyer will get back to you within 24 hours to answer your questions and discuss your possible claim. This is a free, no obligation case review and there are no legal fees unless you receive money at the end of the case. Time is limited, so please call today.
Birth Defects
One in roughly 33 babies is born with a birth defect in the United States. That means that roughly every four minutes, a baby is born with a birth defect, and approximately 120,000 babies are affected every year. Doctors usually realize that a baby has a birth defect within the first year of life, but many birth defects are also diagnosable while the child is in the womb.
A birth defect occurs when there is a problem with the baby’s development in the womb. The problem can affect virtually any part of the body, from the heart to feet development. A defect could be a simple visual abnormality, or it could be a change or variation in the normal functioning of a body part or organ.
The abnormalities vary in severity. Severe birth defects can lead to death. In fact, birth defects are the leading cause of infant death, accounting for 20 percent of infant deaths in the United States.
Types of Birth Defects
There are over 4,000 different varieties of birth defects. Some are extremely rare while others are relatively common. Some require medical treatment while others do not.
When a baby is born with some part of the body that has not formed correctly or that is not present at all, it is referred to as a structural defect. The most common structural defect affects the heart. Other common structural birth defects include:
- Spina bifida
- Clubfoot
- Cleft palate
- Congenital dislocated hip
Sometimes a baby’s body chemistry is not quite right. The defect in those situations is referred to as a metabolic birth defect. Metabolic birth defects inhibit the baby from breaking down food to create energy properly. Examples include Tay-Sachs disease, which is a fatal disease that affects the entire nervous system.
Another type of defect is related to development or function. It causes a specific body part or system to function abnormally. These problems may include:
- Nervous systems problems
- Sensory problems
- Disabilities of intelligence or development
Three of the most common developmental birth defects are down syndrome, sickle cell disease, and cystic fibrosis.
Causes of Birth Defects
Unfortunately, scientists and doctors are unsure of what causes the majority of birth defects. Some conditions, however, have a definitive cause. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, for example, is caused when the mother consumes alcohol while she is pregnant.
Other birth defect causes could be the result of genetics, exposures to certain chemicals or medicines, or lifestyle choices during pregnancy.
Birth defect lawsuits often result when there has been some type of medical error during the pregnancy. In some situations, if the mother takes certain medications or is exposed to unsafe chemicals, like lead, solvents, or cleaning fluids, that can also result in a birth defect. A drug-related lawsuit may result.