When a newborn is diagnosed with a serious medical condition, it is natural for parents to question the underlying cause. In many cases, the answer may be genetic, but in others, it may be a birth injury. Distinguishing between the two is not only necessary for your child’s treatment, but also critical in determining medical malpractice.
At the Law Offices of Dr. Michael M. Wilson, M.D., J.D. & Associates, we evaluate birth injury cases from both a medical and legal perspective. As a licensed physician and attorney, Dr. Wilson is uniquely qualified to analyze whether a child’s condition stems from negligent medical care or an underlying genetic condition.
What Is the Difference Between a Birth Injury and a Genetic Disorder?
Birth injuries and genetic disorders can manifest as lifelong disabilities, but their origins are entirely different:
- Birth Injuries: Physical injuries that occur before, during, or shortly after delivery due to complications or medical error, often linked to oxygen deprivation, trauma during delivery, or failure to properly monitor mother and baby. Many birth injuries are preventable and include skull fractures, cerebral palsy, Erb’s palsy, and seizure disorders.
- Genetic Disorders: Conditions caused by abnormalities in a child’s DNA, inherited from one or both parents or due to spontaneous genetic mutations that originate at conception or early fetal development. Genetic disorders are not caused by something a doctor did or failed to do during delivery and include conditions such as Down syndrome, cystic fibrosis, or muscular dystrophy.
However, whether a condition is definitively a birth injury or a genetic disorder is not always clear-cut initially. In the early stages, many conditions can look similar. Developmental delays, muscle weakness, and seizures can be caused by either oxygen deprivation at birth or a genetic abnormality. Without a careful investigation, determining the true cause of a child’s condition can be challenging.
How Is a Birth Injury Determined?
When Dr. Wilson reviews a potential case, he looks for specific medical markers distinguishing a traumatic birth injury from a genetic condition, such as:
- Fetal Distress: The fetal heart monitor provides recordings of the baby’s heart rate during birth. Prolonged drops in heart rate combined with a delayed C-section can point to oxygen deprivation and Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE). Genetic disorders typically do not cause sudden, acute fetal distress during an otherwise stable labor.
- APGAR Scores: APGAR scores measure an infant’s condition at one and five minutes after birth. While genetic disorders typically result in lower scores, an acute birth injury presents as a dramatic decline. A stable in utero infant who requires immediate resuscitation and intensive care increases the concern of a birth injury.
- Imaging and Diagnostic Testing: MRI findings can be decisive. An MRI of an oxygen-deprived brain shows specific patterns of cell death in certain areas. Conversely, genetic disorders often show structural malformations or dysmorphic features suggesting irregular brain development from the start, rather than injury.
How Can a Washington, D.C. Birth Injury Lawyer Help?
If your child’s condition was caused by a preventable medical error, you may be entitled to compensation for lifelong specialized care, physical therapy, adaptive equipment, home modification, and lost future earnings. Birth injury cases often involve substantial long-term costs.
Hospitals and insurance companies will often claim a child’s cerebral palsy or developmental delay results from an undiagnosed genetic condition rather than a birth injury to avoid liability.
As both a licensed physician and attorney, Dr. Wilson can evaluate the medical science behind your child’s diagnosis, not just the legal theory. He understands how to interpret genomic sequencing and can distinguish between genetic variations and the true cause of disability.
We conduct a thorough medical-first case review, analyze delivery records, imaging, and testing results before determining whether negligence played a role. Identifying a birth injury is the first step toward securing your child’s financial future.
Our Washington, D.C. Birth Injury Lawyers at the Law Offices of Dr. Michael M. Wilson, M.D., J.D. & Associates Help Families Recover After Medical Harm
If you are uncertain whether your child’s diagnosis is a genetic condition or a medical error, you deserve honest answers. At the Law Offices of Dr. Michael M. Wilson, M.D., J.D. & Associates, our experienced Washington, D.C. birth injury lawyers are fluent in both medicine and the law and can help you understand your rights and legal options. Call 202-223-4488 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. Located in Washington, D.C., we serve clients in the surrounding areas, including Northern Virginia and Maryland.
