Genetics and Heredity

There are many factors that may have led to your child’s birth injuries, including the combination of genes from you and your partner that ultimately shaped your child’s genetics. For many years, heredity has been blamed for birth injuries that are, in fact, caused by medical errors and other tragic, avoidable causes.

When something goes wrong with your child, you want answers. You want to know what happened and why. Whether it be genetics or medical malpractice, it is understandable that you want the facts. Stern Law, PLLC can help. Please call (800) 462-5772 for a free consultation.

How are genetics and heredity responsible for causing your child’s condition?

Heredity commonly refers to the passage of traits from a parent to a child and involves many different factors. The scientific study of heredity is broadly referred to as genetics, looking at genes and how they are passed from parent to child; these lead to whether your baby has blue or brown eyes, is tall or short, tastes a soapy flavor when eating cilantro, or has the musculature to become a natural athlete. Genetics also leads to certain birth defects in some children.

According to the March of Dimes, there are 150,000 babies born every year with some sort of birth defect ranging from mild to extreme. The common definition of a birth defect is a malformation or abnormality of the baby’s structure, the function of organs and systems, or the metabolic process. These conditions can be the result of genetics, environmental, or unknown causes.

As more and more research is done, specialists are discovering that even the genetic causes of birth injuries are influenced by environmental factors and that these injuries may have been avoidable. The sad fact is that the cause of nearly half of all birth defects is unknown, and many others could have been prevented.

Some of the environmental influences and genetic anomalies, as well as unknown factors that lead to birth defects and birth injuries are as follows:

• Chromosomal abnormalities – At the time of conception, your genetic material combines with that of your partner to create the genetic makeup of your child. There are times when despite the genetic compatibility of both parents, something goes wrong in the progression of the pregnancy. It is during the early stages of embryonic development that the any chromosomal abnormalities will lead to conditions such as extra chromosomes (Down’s syndrome, Patau’s syndrome, or Edward’s syndrome). Many of the zygotes with chromosomal abnormalities will not develop into a viable fetus. For those infants born with these conditions, some can live relatively long lives, such as those individuals with Down’s syndrome, whereas others will not survive long after birth;
• Single-gene defects – Distinct from chromosomal abnormalities that are not necessarily caused by genetics, these defects are inherited from one parent. There are many genes that lead to well-known conditions such as Tay-Sachs disease and sickle cell anemia that are more prevalent in specific ethnic groups, there are other gene defects that exist in the general population. Sometimes, the gene defect is recessive, and therefore most carriers are not aware that they have the gene until they have a child with a partner who also has the recessive gene. In this case, the baby is born exhibiting the symptoms of the condition. There are many tests that can determine whether one or both parents is a carrier for a specific gene;
• Multi-factorial birth defects – These conditions are caused by a combination of genetics and teratogens (drugs or other substances that lead to abnormalities in the development of the embryo and fetus). Some of these combinations result in malformation of the spine, brain damage, improper organ development, and other birth injuries that may be treatable, or may hinder the life of your child for his or her lifetime. Certain medications used to treat epilepsy may lead to multifactorial birth injuries.

Were you told your child suffered cerebral palsy due to genetic factors? Learn about cerebral palsy and heredity to find out if you have a legal claim.

The prenatal environment

Often, the prenatal environment can impact the severity or long-term consequences of birth injuries. For example, there are a multitude of voluntary actions that can be taken during pregnancy, such as avoiding exposure to chemicals, pesticides, alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs (also known as teratogens), which can greatly influence whether a child develops birth injuries and birth defects. A doctor also may be able to determine risk factors and take precautions to minimize the severity of genetically predisposed conditions.

If you question your doctor’s explanation that your child’s traumatic birth injury occurred simply due to genetic factors, you have the right to find answers. Stern Law, PLLC can pursue truth, justice, and the compensation you deserve for the trauma your child suffered. Please call (800) 462-5772 to discuss the details of your case for free.