Respiratory Experts up and down the county are putting pressure on the Insurance Industry to fund research into the serious and fatal asbestos related diseases.
The British Lung Foundation believes that if Insurers invest more money into researching Mesothelioma, the amount of compensation they end up paying will ultimately reduce as Mesothelioma patients would be able to live more fulfilling and productive lives.
Dr John Moore-Gillian of the British Lung Foundation states “if, each year, Insurers invested in Mesothelioma research just a tiny fraction of the amount they will end up paying out in compensation – for example, just 0.05% of that £11b – it would absolutely transform Mesothelioma research.”
Approximately 2,000 people each year are diagnosed with Mesothelioma and it is possible that this number will increase over the next 30 years. According to the department of Work and Pensions, the estimated death toll is between 56,000 and 63,000.
Many families have to deal with the devastation of losing a loved one to Mesothelioma. It is more commonly caused by blue or brown asbestos rather than white asbestos and there can be a latency period of between 10 – 60 years from initial exposure before it develops. Mesothelioma can cause progressively worsening chest pain or pleural effusions which unfortunately, respond poorly to treatments.
The Mesothelioma Bill passed recently by parliament will enable more people with Mesothelioma or their families to apply for pay outs from a pot funded by the Insurance Industry over the next decade and a spokesman for the association of British Insurers has confirmed that the Insurance Industry is committed to helping people with Mesothelioma and their families to receive compensation as quickly as possible.
More and more patients however have to fight very hard in order to get justice and therefore, the battle continues.
