Massachusetts Pulmonologist Malpractice Attorneys
An increasing amount of people in the United States are entering advanced age, which results in an increased number of people requiring medical care. Respiratory conditions are some of most common ailments that inflict the elderly population. The need for pulmonologist continues to increase as the baby boomer generation continues to age which is why pulmonologist are paid so well. Pulmonologists treat chronic long term conditions and provide treatment acute conditions. Chronic conditions in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Asthma, Emphysema and lung cancers.
Anyone pursing a career as a pulmonologist needs to complete a 3 to 4 year long residency in internal medicine after completing medical school. It is during their residency where they get the hands on training they will need to be successful pulmonologists. After completing medical school and their residency a pulmonologist typically enters a 2 year fellowship. After schooling is completed most pulmonologist will receive their board certification in internal medicine. After their residency is completed they can go on to receive board certification in pulmonology or critical care. Once they have completed their training, pulmonologists can go on to work in a private practice, hospital or emergency department. Pulmonologists are often times needed in emergency medical care situations.
Common Pulmonary Procedures
Pulmonologists are responsible for not only diagnosing respiratory conditions, but also educating patients about how to best manage their symptoms. Some the procedures that are most often performed by pulmonologists include:
- Biopsies: To determine if a person has cancer, biopsies are often performed to remove a sample of lungs from a person to determine if it is cancerous or benign.
- Bronchoscopy: During these tests, a small tube is placed into a person’s lungs which lets a physician see the path of oxygen into a person’s body.
- Chest fluoroscopy: These procedures involves x-rays that are used to create images of the bronchi, lungs, nose, and windpipe.
- Chest ultrasounds: This procedure involves sound waves that create a computerized image of a person’s lungs to determine how they are functioning.
- Chest x-rays: These are an effective method to determine whether a person’s lungs have become impaired due to conditions like cancer or inflammation.
- CT scans: When x-rays do not provide sufficient information on which to base a diagnosis, a pulmonologist will order a CT scan, which helps to create a detailed understanding of a person’s lungs.
- Peak flow measurements: One of the first tests conducted to determine the need for additional examination, this test measures the ability of a person’s lungs to exchange air. During the test, patients blow into a tube while attempting to raise or keep an object in place as the device measures output.
- Polysomnograms. These tests are often conducted on patients while they sleep to detect a number of respiratory conditions.
- Pulse oximetry. This test helps to determine a person’s blood oxygen levels. If a person exhibits lower than normal oxygen levels, pulse oximetry can act as an indication that more tests are required to determine why a person’s lungs are not performing.
- Removal of lungs. There are several procedures in which a pulmonologist removes part of a person’s lung or extracts it entirely. This procedure is frequently used to remove cancerous tissue from a person’s body.
- Thoracentesis. These procedures help physicians drain air or fluid from a person’s lungs to help restore proper functioning.
- Angioplasties: procedures that are performed to open the patient’s airways.
How Pulmonologist Medical Malpractice Occurs
Some of the most common errors that occur while a pulmonologist is treating a patient include the following:
- A medical provider might fail to order adequate diagnostic testing to determine the condition that afflicts a patient.
- After receiving test results, a physician might not communicate properly with a specialist about the tests that must be performed.
Speak with an Experienced Malpractice Attorney Today
Our law firm is dedicated to helping people who have been harmed by malpractice obtain the compensation they deserve. For over 35 years, our law firm has navigated numerous obstacles involved with medical malpractice cases to obtain the compensation that clients deserve. Speak with a seasoned attorney at The Law Offices of Gerald J. Noonan today to make sure that your case resolves in the best possible manner.
We offer a free, no-obligation legal consultation to help you understand your rights and the value of your case.
Our medical malpractice lawyers assist clients throughout all of Massachusetts including, but not limited to, those in the following counties, cities and towns: Plymouth County, Brockton, Plymouth, Bridgewater, Marshfield, Hingham, Duxbury, Wareham, Abington, Rockland, Whitman, Hanson, Holbrook, Middleborough; Norfolk County including Quincy, Stoughton, Dedham, Weymouth, Braintree, Avon, Holbrook, Randolph, Canton, Sharon, Brookline, Franklin; Bristol County including New Bedford, Fall River, Taunton, Attleboro, Westport, Dartmouth, Mansfield, Easton, Raynham, Lakeville, Norton; Cape Cod, Hyannis, Falmouth, Barnstable and the Greater Boston area including Cambridge, Somerville, Medford, Everett, Lawrence, Lynn, Revere, Dorchester, Roxbury.
