Pleural Plaques Ruling Faces Serious Challenge
Following lobbying by MPs and asbestos campaigners, Justice Secretary Jack Straw may look to change the House Of Lords' recent ruling on pleural plaques.
Pleural plaques are areas of fibrosis or scarring of the lung tissue on the inner surface of the ribcage and the diaphragm. While they don't cause any health problems themselves they do indicate that the person has been exposed to asbestos in the past.
While pleural plaques itself is symptomless, people who them are more likely to develop the fatal lung cancer mesothelioma and would require life-long medical check-ups, even if a more serious disease did not develop.
Until recently, it was possible for those with pleural plaques to claim compensation. However, in October 2007, the Lords ruled that pleural plaques was not a disease and therefore people diagnosed with them will not be able to claim compensation.
While this ruling could save the insurance industry £1.4 billion it is now facing serious criticism from Labour MPs, asbestos campaigners and the Union Of Construction Allied Trades and Technicians (UCATT).
Alan Ritchie, general secretary of UCATT said: "The Law Lords decision was wrong and is a major injustice for thousands of workers. Urgent legislation is essential to compensate workers who through no fault of their own have had their health damaged."
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