British Mesothelioma Patient Receives Payout

July 21, 2009

Recently, a 61-year-old British man was awarded nearly $300,000 for his diagnosis of mesothelioma- a deadly form of respiratory cancer.  He worked for several years as a plumber in many of the hospitals in Wakefield, England. He claims that his job was to remove asbestos from pipes.

The man was never warned of the dangers of asbestos exposure and was not provided with any protection while he carried out his duties. Fibers from asbestos can become lodged in organs or body cavities if they are inhaled or ingested. This can cause inflammation or infection of the organs. When the fibers lodge themselves in the lungs, they can cause mesothelioma.

The man received compensation from the county’s strategic health authority after only 18 months. Though the inhalation took place between 1964 and 1972, the settlement will allow him to pay his medical bills and replace his lost wages.