What is Gastroschisis?
Imagine discovering through an ultrasound that your unborn child’s intestine is floating outside their body, instead of inside where it should be. It’s a life-threatening condition known as gastroschisis. Gastroschisis is a congenital birth defect characterized by a break in the abdominal wall through which the intestinal contents protrude. As a result, the organs are left unprotected from the outside world, and vulnerable to damage. If ignored, Gastroschisis can be a relentless, even lethal complication. Gastroschisis is a form of hernia. Hernia means “rupture.” Babies with this defect have a hole in their abdominal wall. The child’s intestines usually protrude through the hole.
Gastroschisis Lawsuit: Gastroschisis Signs & Symptoms
Physical examination of the infant is generally adequate for a doctor to diagnose gastroschisis. The infant will likely have problems with movement and absorption in the gut, because the unprotected intestine is exposed to irritating amniotic fluid. A prenatal ultrasound is also often able to identify the gastroschisis. Gastroschisis patients frequently require multiple surgeries.
Gastroschisis Lawsuit: Antidepressants Linked to Gastroschisis
The following list of antidepressants might be connected to the development of the birth defect gastroschisis in newborns, infants, and children when taken by the mother during pregnancy:
• Zoloft (Sertraline)
• Prozac (Fluoxetine)
• Celexa (Citalopram)
• Paxil (Paroxetine)
• Lexapro (Escitalopram)
• Wellbutrin (Bupropion)
Gastroschisis FDA Warning
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) declared a warning in 2006 to the public to announce a link between antidepressant medication and congenital birth defects. Antidepressants have been linked to an increased risk of gastroschisis in children born to mothers who were taking certain Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) during pregnancy.
Speak to an Antidepressant Lawyer
If you took Zoloft (sertraline), Prozac (fluoxetine), Paxil (paroxetine), Celexa (citalopram), Lexapro (escitalopram) or any another SSRI antidepressant drug during pregnancy and your child was born with gastroschisis, omphalocele or any other congenital heart, lung or abdominal wall birth defect, we encourage you to contact an SSRI Antidepressant Lawsuit Attorney at our law firm immediately regarding a gastroschisis lawsuit. It may be too late to recover from the devastating effects of Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Lexapro and Celexa but an experienced pharmaceutical products liability lawyer at the Willis Law Firm can assist you in legal action in a potential gastroschisis lawsuit against the makers of these dangerous antidepressant drugs. You are not alone. Join other birth defect victims and their families in speaking up and fighting for your legal rights.
Gastroschisis Birth Defect Lawsuit
Please fill out our free online legal evaluation form and we will contact you within 24 hours, or call our offices at 1-800-883-9858 for immediate help. Please keep in mind that certain states have statutes of limitation that limit the amount of time you have to file a lawsuit or seek legal action. Contact our law firm immediately so that we may explain the rights and options available to you and your family.