Acute respiratory distress syndrome is a common disease process encountered by emergency medicine and intensive care physicians.  With an estimated 200,000 patient encounters a year, ARDS is caused by a broad range of etiologies, ranging from viral and bacterial pneumonia to pancreatitis and major trauma.  The management of ARDS has significantly advanced in the last 20 years and has improved patient outcomes.  Current hurdles still exist in early recognition, advancements in medications and appropriate triaging to tertiary centers.  This program will also address defending ARDS cases including tips for deposing witnesses on symptoms and causation, how to gather and use expert testimony in this area and more.