Lords end compensation for pleural plaques

by Richard Kilner

Story link: Lords end compensation for pleural plaques

The House of Lords have ruled that there is to be no more compensation for victims of pleural plaques, an abestos related condition.

Unite has criticised the move, arguing that workers exposed to asbestos have been let down by the Lords and that the established right to compensation has been removed.

Almost every case of pleural plaques are caused by workers being exposed to asbestos by negligent employers, and the disease has been linked to higher likelihood of various fatal conditions such as mesothelioma or asbestosis.

Diagnosis of pleural plaques is often followed by extreme distress for the sufferer due to not only the disease itself but the fear of developing an even more dangerous condition, particularly mesothelioma which is an incurable cancer.

Thousands of people throughout the UK will no longer be able to claim compensation for pleural plaques and, according to Unite, it means that insurers of unscrupulous companies who knowingly exposed their workforce to asbestos will make massive savings.

Derek Simpson, Unite’s Joint General Secretary, described the decision to deny innocent victims of exposure to asbestos as harsh and stated that Unite would continue its campaign to get just compensation for those who have developed asbestos related medical conditions.

Ian McFall is head of asbestos policy at Thompsons Solicitors and worked on the case for Unite. He echoed Simpson’s sentiments, describing the decision as disappointing and adding that the sufferers will be both baffled and offended the House of Lords ruling an end to compensation.