Craniosynostosis is a craniofacial defect that causes one or more of the sutures of a baby’s head to close earlier than normal during development. Sutures are the connections that separate each of the individual skull bones in a baby’s head. A baby with craniosynostosis will suffer from an abnormally shaped head. In the most serious circumstances, this head shape can cause pressure on the brain if it doesn’t have enough room to grow.
Causes
Anti-depressants: The maternal use of certain antidepressants has been associated with a 2.5 times increased risk of craniosynostosis for exposed infants, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The anti-depressants linked to this and other birth defects may include:
Effexor, a similar anti-depressant, is also being researched for a possible link to an increased risk of craniosynostosis.
Depakote: Children born to mothers who took Depakote during pregnancy to treat epilepsy face a 7 times increased risk for craniosynostosis compared to babies not exposed to any antiepileptic drug, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Clomid: Use of the fertility drug Clomid during pregnancy is linked to a nearly doubled risk of craniosynostosis for exposed babies by a study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Treatment
Craniosynostosis is treated with surgery, performed while the baby is still an infant. The surgery is cosmetic – to improve the appearance of the baby’s head – and functional – to relieve any pressure on the brain and make sure there is sufficient room for the brain to grow properly.
Your Baby’s Rights
If your baby was born with craniosynostosis that may have been caused by exposure to prescription drugs before birth, your family deserves financial compensation. Although no amount of money will change what happened to your baby, compensation will help offset the current and future medical costs, as well as provide for the pain and suffering you and your baby have experienced. Filing a claim will also teach the manufacturers of unsafe medications that it is unacceptable to not warn parents of the risks associated with these drugs, including serious birth defects. Your suit may even prevent other families from suffering as yours has, by forcing the pharmaceutical company to change their drug’s label to warn parents of the potential risks.
Contact Us
You may be eligible for compensation to ease the financial burdens associated with your baby’s injury. Contact us today to set up a free consultation during which we will listen to your story, answer any questions you may have and discuss your legal rights and options. If you choose us to represent you, we will work with you on a contingency fee basis; this means you pay nothing until we have secured compensation for you, either through a jury verdict or settlement.