Chicago Hypospadias Birth Defect Attorneys
Hypospadias is a congenital condition that alters the location of the urethral opening (the tube through which urine exits the body via the bladder) on the penis. Hypospadias is therefore a congenital defect that affects boys only. This physical abnormality forms between week 8 and week 14 of pregnancy, and the opening may appear in a number of locations — from just below the tip of the penis to the scrotum itself.
The condition has been linked to mothers who were prescribed certain anticonvulsant drugs that affect normal fetal development. If your son was born with hypospadias, you may be able to obtain compensation for corrective surgery. Contact the Chicago birth defect attorneys at Sexner Injury Lawyers LLC at (312) 243-9922 for a free legal consultation.
What Are the Different Types of Hypospadias?
Depending on the location of the urethral opening, there are three basic types of hypospadias:
- Penoscrotal: Opening located where the scrotum and penis join
- Subcoronal: Opening located near the head of the penis
- Midshaft: Opening located somewhere along the shaft of the penis
Treatment of Hypospadias
This condition is among the most common birth defects in male babies and occurs in approximately 1 of every 250 births. Hypospadias can usually be corrected by surgical repair, and this surgery is best performed between the ages of six months and two years by a pediatric urology surgeon. Although surgical risks such as a fistula or hematoma exist, the vast majority of such surgeries are successful and allow the child to live a normal life.
Generally, surgery is elected to treat hypospadias. If surgery is not performed, problems such as the following may occur:
- Decreased fertility
- Curvature of the penis during erection
- Difficulty directing and controlling the urine stream
Medical Malpractice Claims for Hypospadias
Although hypospadias is a congenital birth defect, under some circumstances medical malpractice may have contributed to or complicated the situation. In such cases, a negligence lawsuit filed against the doctor, hospital, or drug manufacturer may help bring justice and financial compensation to your family. Hypospadias has been linked to a number of medications and drugs, and it is your doctor's responsibility to help you avoid such drugs and their unintended medical consequences. Some of the ways a medical provider may be held liable for injuries related to this condition include:
- A doctor prescribing — or failing to warn against — certain SSRI antidepressants such as Paxil, Zoloft, or Prozac, which have been linked to congenital birth defects including hypospadias.
- A doctor prescribing the fertility drug Clomid or the anti-nausea drug Zofran, which have also been linked to congenital birth defects like hypospadias.
- A negligently performed circumcision or other corrective surgery.
- A pharmaceutical drug company that manufactures an unsafe product or fails to properly warn consumers of the possibility of congenital birth defects.
Knowledgeable Hypospadias Attorneys in Chicago
Contact the Chicago birth injury lawyers at Sexner Injury Lawyers LLC if you believe that doctor or hospital negligence has occurred. Millions of dollars have already been recovered for our clients and their families. There is never any fee charged unless we are successful on your behalf, and information is always free. Call us at (312) 243-9922 today to see how we can help your family.
