When you are pregnant, one of the most important steps you can take is to engage in regular testing and prenatal screening. If the tests indicate that your child may be prone to, or will have, a congenital disease or defect, you can either prepare yourself financially for the challenges to come, or you may elect to terminate the pregnancy. Of course, as a lay person, you’ll have to rely on medical advice to know what types of screening you need and when you need them. When your doctor fails to properly conduct appropriate prenatal screening, or when there are errors in detecting birth defects or other health problems, you may have a claim for “wrongful birth.”
The types of screening generally fall into two categories—invasive and non-invasive tests. Generally, you’ll start with non-invasive tests—an ultrasound, blood or genetic tests or what is known as a nuchal translucency test. If those tests indicate abnormalities or concerns, you may want to have one of the more demanding and conclusive procedures, such as an amniocentesis or a chorionic villi sampling. With the amniocentesis, a small puncture is made to your placenta, so that amniotic fluid (which surrounds and protects your child) can be withdrawn and tested. With the chorionic villi sampling, technicians will take a sample of your chorionic tissue for analysis.
As with most things, the earlier you can have prenatal screening or test, the better. The sooner you identify potential problems, the sooner doctors can take remedial measures or the sooner you can decide to end the pregnancy.
Contact the Law Office of Michael J. Hood
At the law office of Michael J. Hood, in Wilmington, we bring more than 30 years of experience to personal injury victims in Delaware and Pennsylvania. For a free initial consultation, contact us online or call our office at 302-777-1000 for an appointment.