Workers' Compensation: Statement on malignant mesothelioma in the United Kingdom

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Statement on malignant mesothelioma in the United Kingdom

Asbestos exposure is causally related to mesothelioma, a fatal cancer. Today's post was shared by WCBlog and comes from thorax.bmj.com

Malignant mesothelioma is one of the more difficult diseases that doctors, patients, and families have to face. It is almost always caused by inhalation of asbestos fibre many years before presentation. Diagnosis can be difficult, there is little hope of a cure, and the disease has the potential for extremely unpleasant symptoms.

The incidence is increasing rapidly and the position of mesothelioma in the league table of cancer related deaths is rising. However, few doctors have managed sufficient numbers of patients to have acquired comprehensive clinical experience of the disease. Furthermore, the relative rarity of the condition and lack of extensive research mean that clinicians do not have reliable evidence on which to base their practice.

The British Thoracic Society (BTS) Standards of Care Committee was asked by the National Health Executive in England to consider what could be done to improve management in the light of the increasing incidence. A Working Party was established, comprising clinicians with interest and experience of the condition, with a view to compiling guidelines to assist in the management of mesothelioma (both pleural and peritoneal) in the UK. The Working Party was supplemented by co-opted specialists. These included radiologists, pathologists, and oncologists and full details are given in Appendix .

The draft was reviewed by the whole membership of the BTS from whom extensive comments were gratefully received. The document was also sent to...

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Jon L. Gelman of Wayne NJ is the author NJ Workers’ Compensation Law (West-Thompson) and co-author of the national treatise, Modern Workers’ Compensation Law (West-Thompson). For over 4 decades the Law Offices of Jon L Gelman 1.973.696.7900 jon@gelmans.com have been representing injured workers and their families who have suffered occupational accidents and illnesses.