Philadelphia Acute Respiratory Distress Lawyer

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is a condition that causes fluid buildup in your lungs. This prevents oxygen from getting into your lungs causing difficulty with breathing and depriving your organs from receiving enough oxygen to function. ARDS is a life-threatening condition that can result in death. In fact, according to the National Institute of Health (NIH), it has a very high mortality rate.

If you have been injured or lost a loved one from ARDS caused by a doctor or health facility’s negligence, you may have grounds for a Philadelphia medical malpractice claim. The experienced litigators at Youman & Caputo can assess your case and help you get justice if you are entitled to compensation.

Why Choose Our Law Firm for Your Case?

• With nearly 50 years of combined experience representing plaintiffs, the founding partners of Youman & Caputo have secured or helped secure more than 100 seven or eight-figure settlements or verdicts.
• A recent example of our commitment to getting justice for our clients is a $6.3 million verdict secured on behalf of a 42-year-old woman whose husband died due to medical negligence. It was the second largest medical malpractice jury verdict in Pennsylvania, and one of the 100 largest jury verdicts in the country in 2019.

Contact us for legal assistance you can trust. We will thoroughly investigate your case and work aggressively to achieve the best possible outcome for you. Call Youman & Caputo at (215) 302-1999 for your free consultation.

What Are Common Causes and Risk Factors of ARDS?

ARDS is caused by injury to the lungs. Some common injuries are:

• Blood transfusions
• High-risk surgery
• Trauma to the head or chest
• Inhalation of harmful substances
• Sepsis
• Reactions to medication

ARDS is usually triggered by other health problems, which is why most people who develop it are already in the hospital for another reason. The following factors put people at increased risk for ARDS:

• Advanced age
• History of alcohol abuse
• History of drug abuse
• Chronic lung disease
• Chemotherapy
• Recent high-risk surgery
• Obesity

ARDS Treatment and Recovery

Although there is no cure for ARDS, fast diagnosis and treatment are important because it is life-threatening. Treatment for ARDS focuses on getting enough oxygen into the blood supply to prevent organ failure. Most people recover from ARDS but stabilizing the patient while the lungs heal is critical to full recovery.

Treatment includes:

• Ventilator support
• Sedation
• Proning – where the patient is turned to lay on their stomach
• Diuretics
• Ventilator support
• Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) – a high-risk therapy that takes blood out of the body, oxygenates it and removes carbon dioxide before it is returned to the body.

These treatment options can lead to other problems, including:

• Collapsed lung
• Organ damage or failure
• Scarred tissue
• Infection
• Blood clots
• High blood pressure

The treatment of and recovery from ARDS can be physically and emotionally draining for victims and their families. A patient who suffers injury from ARDS or the treatment of ARDS may be facing a very different life than they were used to before their injury. Organ damage or failure may severely limit their lifestyle and ability to earn a living in the same type of work they did before the injury.

If you have suffered injury from ARDS or the treatment of ARDS, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your losses such as your past and future medical bills, your loss of income, or your physical pain and suffering or emotional distress.

Consult With an Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Attorney

If you believe that you or a family member has been seriously injured because of a medical error or the negligence of your doctor, contact Youman & Caputo at (215) 302-1999 for a free consultation. Our experienced Philadelphia acute respiratory distress lawyers will review your case to determine its merits and identify the legally responsible parties.