Government will reverse mesothelioma ruling

The Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer has announced changes to compensation laws which will mean victims of asbestos-related cancer will receive full compensation.

The announcement follows the House of Lords ruling in Barker v Corus in May this year that prevented thousands of mesothelioma victims from receiving a full payout . The decision reduced the amount of compensation to which they were entitled when employers and their insurers were unavailable to be sued, as well as making the whole process of claiming compensation longer and more costly.

In response The Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer and John Hutton, the Work and Pensions Secretary, will amend the Compensation Bill - currently going through Parliament - to reverse the ruling. The amendment will mean that negligent employers will be jointly and severally liable and that claimants will be able to recover full compensation from any one employer.



Peter Williams, a partner in the Asbestos Claims Department at Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP, said:

"I am delighted the government has promptly indicated their intention to restore the rights of those suffering from mesothelioma to claim full compensation from any one employer.

"Whilst we do need to look at the detail and timing of the legislation we hope to be able to tell our clients and their families we can deal with their cases speedily and that they no longer face the prospect of losing large amounts of compensation through no fault of their own."

About 1,900 people die in the UK each year from mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lungs or abdomen, which is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos.

Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP is one of the country?s leading asbestos disease claims firms. Over twenty-five years Rodney Nelson-Jones and his team have recovered nearly ?100M in over 1,750 successful cases.

For more details or comment please contact:

Asbestos Claims Department of Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP.

Peter Williams (020 7861 4825)

Andrew Morgan (020 7861 4036)



info@ffw.com

Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP

35 Vine Street

London

EC3N 2AA

United Kingdom

Tel 020 7861 4000

Fax 020 7488 0084



About Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP

FFW is a full service law firm based in the City of London. With 91 partners, over 180 other lawyers and over 250 support staff, we assist a wide range of domestic and international clients, with advice across a full range of commercial legal issues. Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP also houses one of the country's leading personal injury practices.

Mesothelioma - What You Need To Know

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer which occurs when asbestos are inhaled and absorbed into the bloodstream leading to a cancerous coating on the internal body organs of patients. There has been much controversy on the subject recently as many lawsuits are being filed on the behalf of patients with this disease.

Currently, the average settlement in Mesothelioma related lawsuits is over $1 million. Signs and symptoms of the disease include among other things, shortness of breath and rapid unexpected weight loss as in patients with Mesothelioma, nutrients in the blood stream cannot be always be absorbed resulting in malnutrition and weight loss. Other common symptoms include pain in the chest as well s in the abdominal region.

At this time, there is no treatment that will allow Mesothelioma patients to fully receiver from this disease; however, there is much attention on this subject and thus medicines and other treatment options are being developed to help cure the disease. Currently, the primary form of treatment is surgery, although success rates are very low. Mesothelioma is a disease gathering much news in recent months and look for new treatment options as well as law suits to be filed in the coming months and years.

What Is Mesothelioma? find out at http://www.whatismesothelioma.ca

Mesothelioma Treatments: What Are My Options?

Clinical research to treat malignant mesothelioma is very active and although no treatment has yet proved entirely successful, there exist a range of treatments available to individuals diagnosed with the disease. There are three types of standard treatments used to treat malignant mesothelioma which include: surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.

Surgery

Surgery for malignant mesothelioma is divided into a number of sub-classes, which are specially designed to limit the disease for individuals with particular strains of the disease.

Extrapleural pneumonectomy is a severe form of surgery in which the entire lung and a portion of the lining of the chest, the diaphragm, and some or the entire sac which surrounds the heart is removed.

Wide local excision is a form of surgery which targets and removes the cancer and a limited amount of the healthy tissue surrounding the cancerous region.

Pleurectomy and decortication removes part of the covering of the lungs, as well as the lining of the chest and portions of the outside covering of the lungs.

The surgical procedure pleurodesis is a distinct technique insofar as it employs a blend of chemicals and/or drugs to create an intentional scar between the layers of the pleura. Post surgery, the space created by the scar must be drained, using either a catheter or chest tube, and is then filled with a chemical which inhibits the accumulation of fluid in the pleura cavity.

Radiation

The second primary medical technique used to fight the development of malignant mesothelioma is radiation. Radiation therapy, as applied to malignant mesothelioma uses the same basic technology as other forms of medical radiation insofar as the technique employs high energy x-rays to kill cancer cells. The process is divided into two broad categories:

External radiation therapy is a technique in which a machine sends radiation in a targeted stream at a certain portion of the body, and in so doing it kills the cancerous cells in its purview.

Internal radiation therapy, by contrast, uses not an external machine, but rather needles, seeds and catheters to place radioactive substance directly on or near the cancer. While the precise method of implementation will of course depend upon the type and stage of the illness, what is constant within this category is that the goal is to get the radiation placed directly onto the cancerous area and in so doing provide a more concentrated and directed dosage.

Chemotherapy

The third standard malignant mesothelioma treatment is Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy uses drugs which target cancer cells and stop them from dividing and thus prevent their growth.

In systemic chemotherapy, the drug can be taken by mouth or injected, but either way the goal is to have it reach cancer cells by means of the body?s own blood circulation system. In regional chemotherapy, the drug is placed directly onto the target area. And finally, combination chemotherapy involves the use of two or more anticancer drugs which can be administered either orally or through injection.

Malignant mesothelioma is a difficult disease for anyone to bear, however, educating oneself as to the options available is an important step for making the process more manageable.

Robert Linebaugh writes about health issues, and focuses on mesothelioma. Learn more at http://www.justmeso.com

Mesothelioma

Malignant mesothelioma is an uncommon, but no longer rare, cancer that is difficult to diagnose and poorly responsive to therapy. Malignant mesothelioma is the most serious of all asbestos-related diseases. A layer of specialized cells called mesothelial cells lines the chest cavity, abdominal cavity, and the cavity around the heart. These cells also cover the outer surface of most internal organs. The tissue formed by these cells is called mesothelium.

The mesothelium helps protect the organs by producing a special lubricating fluid that allows organs to move around. For example, this fluid makes it easier for the lungs to move inside the chest during breathing. The mesothelium of the chest is called the pleura and the mesothelium of the abdomen is known as the peritoneum. The mesothelium of the pericardial cavity (the "sac-like" space around the heart) is called the pericardium

Tumors of the mesothelium can be benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous). A malignant tumor of the mesothelium is called a malignant mesothelioma. Because most mesothelial tumors are cancerous, malignant mesothelioma is often simply called mesothelioma. Mesothelioma was recognized as a tumor of the pleura, peritoneum and pericardium in the late 1700's. However it was not until much later, in 1960, that this particular type of tumor was described in more detail and even more importantly, its association with asbestos exposure was recognized. The first report linking mesothelioma to asbestos exposure was written by J.C.Wagner, and described 32 cases of workers in the "Asbestos Hills" in South Africa. Since than the relationship between mesothelioma and asbestos exposure has been confirmed in studies around the world.

The incidence of mesothelioma in the United States remains very low, with 14 cases occurring per million people per year. Despite these numbers the noticed threefold increase in mesothelioma in males between 1970 and 1984, is directly associated with environmental and occupational exposure to asbestos, mostly in areas of asbestos product plants and shipbuilding facilities. Although the disease is much more commonly seen in 60-year old men, it has been described in women and early childhood as well. The cause of the disease is not so well understood in these latter two groups, but there is some evidence of possible asbestos exposure for some of these cases as well

Mesothelioma is one of the deadliest diseases known to man; the average life span of an inflicted person from the time of diagnosis until death is less than 24 months. It's a disease that strikes approximately 3,000 United States citizens each and every year; hard working people who have labored for a lifetime to provide for their families, doing the work that keeps this country running and a great place to live. They worked in factories, at shipyards, in mines, for the US military, as engineers, as pipefitters, as steel workers, as auto mechanics, and in so many other professions. They came home to their loved ones exhausted and covered in dirt and dust; tired, but content that they had a job and were providing for their family. Content that they were putting food on the table and a house over their loved one's heads. Content that they were working to make a better life for their families in this generation and the next... But what they didn't know was that while they were working so hard, they were not only slowly killing themselves, but those that they were working so hard to help; their family, their loved ones.

What is the mesothelium? The mesothelium is a membrane that covers and protects most of the internal organs of the body. It is composed of two layers of cells: One layer immediately surrounds the organ; the other forms a sac around it. The mesothelium produces a lubricating fluid that is released between these layers, allowing moving organs (such as the beating heart and the expanding and contracting lungs) to glide easily against adjacent structures. The mesothelium has different names, depending on its location in the body. The peritoneum is the mesothelial tissue that covers most of the organs in the abdominal cavity. The pleura is the membrane that surrounds the lungs and lines the wall of the chest cavity. The pericardium covers and protects the heart. The mesothelial tissue surrounding the male internal reproductive organs is called the tunica vaginalis testis. The tunica serosa uteri covers the internal reproductive organs in women

What Is My Diagnosis? There are three types of mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the lung (pleura), peritoneal mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the abdominal cavity (peritoneum), and pericardial mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining surrounding the heart (pericardium). Sub-types (or cell types) of mesothelioma are epithelioid (the most common, and considered the most amenable to treatment), sarcomatous (a much more aggressive form), and biphasic or mixed (a combination of both of the other cell types). The structural appearance of cells under the microscope determine the cell or sub-type of mesothelioma. Epithelioid is the least aggressive; sarcomatoid, the most aggressive. The biphasic or mixed cell type shows structural elements of both of the other two.

Malignant mesothelioma is an uncommon, but no longer rare, cancer that is difficult to diagnose and poorly responsive to therapy. Malignant mesothelioma is the most serious of all asbestos-related diseases.

What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that effects the lining of the chest, abdomen or heart. Most people who have or have had mesothelioma have been exposed to asbestos about 35-40 years before contracting the disease. Asbestos have been known to come from certain insulators, cements, roofs and household cleaners, among other things. An exposure to asbestos for as little as 2 or 3 months can result in mesothelioma, however most asbestos have been removed from products since the 1980's. The symptoms of this disease are not specific, which can result in a delay in diagnoses. Some early symptoms of mesothelioma are pneumonia, shortness of breath, chest pain, and cough.

This cancer can be fatal and spread to other areas of your body through your blood. Cat scans, X-rays and MRI's are used to diagnose this cancer. If you are aware of being exposed to asbestos in the past, please contact your doctor immediately, as the sooner you are diagnosed, the more successful treatment will be. If you are not sure that you were exposed to asbestos, but have worked in construction or with house held cleaners before the 1980's, you should ask your doctor to get tested just to be safe. Mesothelioma is usually treated with a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. If you are diagnosed with the disease while it is in a late stage, the expected survival rate is only 8-12 months, however patients who are diagnosed early have been known to have a much better survival rate, about 40% living for five years.

This is a very serious disease, and people with any suspicion of being exposed to asbestos before should immediately contact their doctors, in order to catch the disease while it is still in it's early stages.

Joanne Mackenzie writes about various topics. This article is free to re-print as long as nothing is changed, all links remained intacked, the bio remains in full and the tag is not added to any of the links. Thank-you

How to Find the Best Mesothelioma Lawyer or Mesothelioma Attorney?

Choosing a good Mesothelioma Attorney or Lawyer is important, as they will be able to determine the appropriate level of compensation and other important matters relating specifically to Mesothelioma litigation.

Most Mesothelioma Attorneys and Lawyers offer free consultations and can provide you with information regarding other avenues of support. Mesothelioma Attorneys and Lawyers will also have information about personal injury and wrongful death litigation.

If you, or someone you know has been diagnosed with Mesothelioma, finding the right Mesthelioma Attorney, or Lawyer is essential. Winning your case against personal injury, or wrongful death, as a result of Mesothelioma Cancer, can help you in the recovery process.

Often in cases of Mesothelioma Cancer, patients are not aware of their condition until it is at an advanced stage. It is at this stage that it is essential to seek a doctors advice and to seek legal help.

Mesothelioma Cancer is mainly caused through exposure to an Asbestos related substance and this exposure most likely occurred, through non-disclosure by companies, who used an Asbestos related substance.

Your Mesothelioma Attorney, or Lawyer can discuss with you the types of evidence and documentation that might be required in order to pursue litigation. Mesothelioma Attorneys, or Lawyers will take care of all the paperwork and phone calling that might need to be done.

Most Mesothelioma Attorneys, or Lawyers are honest, reliable and compassionate about helping people with Mesothelioma Cancer. This is one factor that helps Mesothelioma Attorneys and Lawyers win their Mesothelioma litigation.

Some of the other reasons that Mesothelioma Attorneys and Lawyer win their Mesothelioma litigation is through their highly qualified skills and education on the topic of Mesothelioma Cancer and its related causes.

It is important that everyone knows their rights in relation to injury and wrongful death and pursues adequate measures to ensure that others are not affected by similar incidents in the future. By pursuing your own, or your loved ones, Mesothelioma litigation you are not only helping yourself, or your loved one, you are helping others.

If you, or someone you know, has been exposed to an Asbestos related substance in the past, you should be aware of, and look for, the following symptoms; shortness of breath, chest pain, abdominal pain, fever, or other related immune deficiency illnesses.

If you, or someone you know, shows any of these symptoms, you should first contact your, or their, doctor to obtain a proper diagnosis, followed by a prognosis and then contact your, or their, nearest Mesothelioma Attorney, or Lawyer.

Learn more about mesothelioma treatment and asbestos litigation go here: http://www.mesothelioma-treatment-center.com/mesothelioma-lawyer-attorney.htm