Pulmonologists
Pulmonologists are doctors who specialize in the care, diagnosis, and treatment of disorders of the respiratory system. Respirologists is another name for this medical specialization. Pulmonologists are medical doctors who have completed all the standard years of medical education with additional knowledge, focus, and practice in treating the lungs and supportive organs associated with the airway and acquisition of oxygen, and elimination of carbon dioxide. Pulmonology is a sub-specialization of internal medicine. While most people tend to think of the lungs pretty much exclusively when the respiratory system is mentioned, the process of keeping the blood and tissues perfused with oxygen intimately ties all the systems of the body together. While inadequate air can cause death within minutes, oxygen and carbon dioxide levels are also involved in pH maintenance in the body. The circulatory system and kidneys are also very much a part of the job the lungs get most of the credit for performing.
Pulmonologists are the mainstay of most hospital intensive care units. Disorders or diseases a pulmonologist might be seen for include:
- Allergies (as anaphylactic reactions to allergens can greatly reduce or stop breathing)
- Asthma
- Chronic bronchitis
- Chronic coughs
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Dyspnea (shortness of breath)
- Emphysema
- Lung cancer
- Pneumonia or other respiratory infections
- Restrictive lung diseases
Types of medical errors that a pulmonologist might make include the most common in medicine which is a medicine error (wrong drug, wrong amount prescribed, etc). Misdiagnosis or a failure to diagnose can occur.
If you believe you or a loved one suffered harm or a worsening of a condition due to an error made by a pulmonologist, you may be eligible for damages. Contact the experts at the Sweeney Law Firm and let us review the facts to see if you have a medical provider malpractice case. If we decide to take your case, we work on a contingency fee basis, meaning we don’t get paid unless there is a settlement or recovery of funds for you.