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Claims for asbestos compensation can be complicated by the fact that asbestos-related illnesses usually have a long latency period, generally up to 50 years. Claims may also be complicated by the swift progress of illnesses such as mesothelioma. Another problem may be one of diagnosis, with an uncertain number of cases being misdiagnosed each year.
Difficulties in diagnosis
What is clear is that mesothelioma, a cancer which is notoriously difficult to correctly identify, is often confused with other types of cancer and also, sometimes, with relatively benign illnesses such as the common cold, a chest infection or a virus.
There have also been reports of doctors mistakenly diagnosing patients with asthma, particularly those that have the chronic inflammatory and fibrotic asbestos-related disease, asbestosis.
A late or misdiagnosis can greatly reduce an asbestos illness patient's life expectancy and, as such, may result in the responsible party facing a negligence claim.
The flip side of misdiagnosis
In 2008 there was an inquest into the death of man who died as a result of complications stemming from the surgical removal of one of his lungs.
Those present at the inquest heard that the 61-year-old former shipyard worker had decided to have his lung removed after being told that he had mesothelioma and that the surgery would extend his life expectancy by three years.
However, what the man was never told was that after the surgery a biopsy had revealed that the lung contained no cancerous cells.
The deputy coroner explained, "I have heard the full effect a lack of communication between doctors can have. He was diagnosed with mesothelioma and it was possible they thought he did have the disease. He spent his last months in hospital or in a hospice and no cancer was found."
A medical expert elaborated, explaining the psychological impact the misdiagnosis had on the man before he died. "He was scared to go to sleep because he was scared of not waking up. He became so bad, convinced that the disease was spreading in his body, that he was bordering on psychotic and may have had to be admitted as an emergency psychiatric patient," she said.
Claim compensation for an asbestos-related illness
For many years now YouClaim has been securing 100% compensation settlements for people who've suffered an injury or developed an illness as a result of another party's negligence.
In asbestos compensation claims, the fact of exposure is usually enough to secure a settlement.
If you believe that it may be possible to prove to that an employer is liable for exposing either you or a family member to the deadly fibre, we can help you decide whether it might be in your interests to proceed with our service.
We have a strong national reputation, an outstanding success rate and, win or lose, provide a completely charge-free service. The only exception to this is claims for cases of alleged medical negligence, where some cost may apply.
Furthermore, we never take a cut, instead ensuring that every penny awarded in a settlement goes direct to the claimant.
To find out more about why YouClaim is synonymous with personal injury legal excellence, echat with an advisor or call our helpline, on 0800 10 757 95.
All our personal injury solicitors work under the governance of the SRA.
