Mississippi Birth Injury Attorneys Discuss Injuries Caused by Prescription Drugs

Many of us rely on medications to treat medical conditions, and some medications have the power to do a lot of good things for our health. When a woman is trying to conceive or she becomes pregnant, though, it is possible that she may have to stop taking some of the medications that she had previously been using safely. The reason for this is that not all medications are safe for use during pregnancy. Using medications that are not approved for use during pregnancy can cause birth defects and birth injuries.

Prescription drugs are powerful substances which can have impacts on our bodies that go beyond relieving the symptoms for which they were prescribed. The devastating impacts of some medications on babies who were exposed to them in utero have been known for quite some time. In the early 1960’s, thousands of babies died or were disfigured after their mothers were prescribed Thalidomide for morning sickness. There are many prescription drugs on the market today, and some of them do pose serious risks to the development of babies in utero when they are used by mothers who are pregnant.

Every year in America, fifteen thousand birth defects are caused by prescription drugs. Approximately seventy percent of women take at least one prescription medication during their pregnancy. Some of these women are taking medications that have been shown to be safe for use during pregnancy, while others are taking medications whose effects on developing fetuses are unknown or which are not approved for use during pregnancy.

The types of prescription drugs which have caused birth defects include fertility treatments, a prescription acne treatment, antifungal medications, popular antidepressants, some painkillers and anti-convulsants.  When a child is born with a birth defect or injury, it is important to consider any possible causes of harm. If the child’s mother was prescribed one of the prescription medications listed above, it is possible that the parents may be able to recover damages from the doctor who prescribed the medication. When a doctor is prescribing a medication to treat an expectant mother’s medical condition, they are supposed to look at the FDA’s categorized lists of medications and select the safest option. The doctor should also consider whether the medication is absolutely necessary. In addition to filing a claim against the doctor who prescribed the medication, parents may be able to file a claim against the manufacturer of the drug.

Giddens Law Firm, P.A.: Mississippi Medical Malpractice Attorneys

If you were prescribed prescription drugs during your pregnancy and your baby was born with a birth defect, you could benefit from the assistance of qualified Mississippi Birth Injury Attorneys. The attorneys at the Giddens Law Firm, P.A. would like to hear from you. Please call our office today, at (601) 355-2022 to arrange a consultation with us.