How Can The Failure To Prescribe Folic Acid To Pregnant Mothers Lead To Spina Bifida?

When a failure to provide standard prenatal care harms a fetus, the mother may have legal recourse. A folic acid disorder can lead to spina bifida in unborn babies. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) explains that during fetal development, a special plate of cells along the back of the embryo starts to form a neural tube that, within the first 28 days of pregnancy, develops into the baby’s brain and spinal cord. Spina bifida is a malformation of that neural tube. If your baby is born with spina bifida due to a failure to prescribe folic acid, New York attorneys may be able to help you sue for damages based on medical malpractice. 

There are four different types of spina bifida, and the most severe types can cause partial paralysis, urinary and bowel dysfunction and even complete motor paralysis that prevents walking. The medical field today requires pregnant mothers to take folic acid, which is contained in B vitamins, and it is prescribed as part of their prenatal care as a preventative. While the medical field does not understand how spina bifida occurs, there is a known medical correlation between folic acid deficiency and spina bifida development in unborn babies.

If your baby is born with spina bifida, consult experienced Manhattan medical malpractice lawyers to determine whether you have a medical malpractice case and to maximize your chances at receiving compensation.

Our attorneys atRich & Rich, P.C. have effective legal skills acquired through more than 45 years of combined legal experience. Call 646.736.3999 to arrange a free consultation and to discuss your legal options.