Migliaccio & Rathod LLP is investigating whether Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare continued using race-based reference values when interpreting pulmonary function tests, potentially affecting diagnoses, treatment decisions, disability evaluations, and occupational health determinations.
Spirometry measures how well a person’s lungs function. Historically, many pulmonary testing systems adjusted expected lung capacity based upon a patient’s race. Leading respiratory organizations have since recommended race-neutral reference standards after concluding that race is a social construct rather than a biological characteristic capable of accurately predicting lung function.
What Patients Report
Patients report:
- Being told their lung function was normal despite ongoing breathing difficulties.
- Receiving delayed diagnoses of asthma, COPD, or other lung diseases.
- Being denied referrals for additional pulmonary evaluation.
- Receiving disability or employment decisions based upon pulmonary testing.
- Learning later that race-specific reference values may have been used.
- Difficulty obtaining repeat testing under race-neutral standards.
Why Patients Should Be Concerned
Pulmonary function testing influences diagnoses, treatment decisions, disability determinations, workers’ compensation claims, and occupational fitness evaluations. If race-specific reference values understated lung impairment, some patients may have experienced delayed medical care, reduced benefits, or inaccurate employment decisions.
This investigation seeks to determine whether Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare continued using race-based spirometry reference values after race-neutral standards became widely recommended and whether affected patients received appropriate follow-up evaluation.
Potential Claims May Include
- Healthcare Discrimination
- Violation of Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act
- Violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act
- Consumer Protection
- Medical Negligence
Signs You May Be Affected
You may be affected if:
- You underwent pulmonary function testing at Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare.
- You are Black, Hispanic, Asian, or another racial minority.
- You were told your lung function was normal despite persistent respiratory symptoms.
- Your pulmonary testing affected employment or disability benefits.
- You were denied additional pulmonary evaluation or treatment.
- You believe race affected how your lung function was interpreted.
If you have encountered these issues, we would like to hear from you. Please complete the contact form on this page, send us an email at [email protected], or give us a call at (202) 470-3520.