47 results

• World Birth Defects Day Sought to Raise Awareness About Spina Bifida, Congenital Heart Defects and Other Malformations

  March 4, 2019

  Martha Garcia

  World Birth Defect Day was observed Sunday, as the CDC and other agencies seek additional means of preventing birth malformations.

• Depakote Spina Bifida Claim Results in $15M Verdict Over Pregnancy Side Effects

  June 12, 2017

  Irvin Jackson

  A Depakote lawsuit has ended in a $15 million verdict for a mother and son who blame the boy's split spine on the epilepsy drug's side effects.

• Birth Defects Cost U.S. Healthcare Billions Every Year: CDC

  January 23, 2017

  Irvin Jackson

  Treating birth defects costs the U.S. healthcare system as much as $23 billion every year, and accounts for one out of every $20 dollars spent on hospitalizations, according to a CDC study.

• Depakote Settlement Reached in Birth Defect Lawsuit as Jury Deliberates

  June 8, 2016

  Irvin Jackson

  A Depakote trial ended during jury deliberations when the parents of a child born with spina bifida reached an undisclosed settlement with drug manufacturers.

• Depakote Lawsuit Over Spina Bifida Birth Defect Results in $15M Jury Award

  May 27, 2015

  Irvin Jackson

  A jury has awarded $15 million to a 12-year-old who was born with birth defects after her mother used Depakote during pregnancy.

• Birth Defect Risks May Be Impacted by Wide Use of Opioid Painkillers Among Reproductive Women: CDC

  January 28, 2015

  Irvin Jackson

  The CDC warns that a quarter to a third of reproductive-age women in the U.S. use painkillers, putting themselves at an increased risk of having a child with birth defects.

• Neural Tube Birth Defects Declining in Face of Folic Acid Push: CDC

  January 19, 2015

  Irvin Jackson

  A new report indicates that neural tube birth defect rates have declined as more pregnant women have been prescribed folic acid supplements.

• Weigh Benefits and Risks of Pain Medication Use During Pregnancy, FDA Advises

  January 12, 2015

  Irvin Jackson

  The FDA says scientific evidence is too thin to make sweeping recommendations regarding the use of painkillers during pregnancy.

• Washington Neural Tube Birth Defect Cluster Stump Investigators

  February 18, 2014

  Irvin Jackson

  Investigators say they cannot find a cause for a cluster of birth defects in a part of Washington state. Critics say they did not investigate thoroughly enough.

• CDC Highlights Risks of Birth Defects, Folic Acid Benefits

  January 7, 2014

  Irvin Jackson

  This month is National Birth Defects Month and health officials are urging women to take folic acid to prevent malformations.