Infant Birth Heart Defects

Birth defects are also referred to as “congenital birth defects,” or “congenital abnormalities,” or “congenital anomalies.”  Birth defects exist at the time a baby is born.  Some birth defects are obvious and apparent at the time of birth, while other defects are not noticeable to a lay person upon the birth of the child.  In addition, some birth defects are life threatening and the child does not live long, while other birth defects are more mild and last for a lifetime.   

Birth Defects and Symptoms

There are numerous types of birth defects.  Some common types of birth defects include the following:

• spina bifida (the spinal column is not closed so part of the spinal cord protrudes which causes neurological disorders)
• mental retardation (a disorder effecting individuals before age eighteen, characterized by significantly impaired cognitive functioning and deficits in adaptive behaviors)
• cleft palate (incomplete fusion of the bones of the palate)
• Down Syndrome (extra genetic material results in physical and mental developmental delays)
• Club foot (a deformity of the foot where the feet appear rotated inward)
• Tay-Sachs disease (a fatal genetic disorder which destroys the central nervous system)
• Congenital heart defects (these vary but ultimately a congenital heart defect changes the normal flow of blood through the heart)
• Achondroplasia (a type of dwarfism)

Liability of Infant Birth Defects

Frequently, the cause of a birth defect remains unknown.  However, there are times where birth defects may be attributed to the negligence of third parties.  For instance, birth defects may be caused when a pregnant woman ingests a certain type of medication.  Consequently, there may be liability against the prescribing physician and/or the manufacturer of the medication.

Help from a Lawyer

If one’s child has a congenital birth defect, the matter usually a complicated one.  Many times, parents assume that the birth defect is not legally actionable or that a diagnosis is a problem diagnosis for which there is no legal claim.  However, an experienced malpractice attorney can evaluate one’s case and determine whether there is a claim.  In addition, an attorney can help to alleviate one’s concern that there may have been malpractice committed against one’s child.