Monday, October 22, 2007

Why should you take legal action if you are diagnosed of Mesothelioma?

Why should you take legal action if you are diagnosed of Mesothelioma?

The reason why millions of people around the world are suffering from mesothelioma is very simple to understand. The only reason for this is the sheer negligence of the asbestos industrialists to safeguard their immediate society from asbestos hazards. They knew that the mining, manufacture and use of asbestos could create a lot of harm to the lives of many people. However, the short-term economic gain that they reaped made them blind to the long-term ill effects posed by asbestos on the health of individuals. This negligence on their part has resulted in the deaths of millions of people due to mesothelioma. Also, many more millions will succumb to this disease in the coming years. The main classes of people responsible for this negligence are listed below:

a) Asbestos mine owners: These people did nothing to protect their employees. They knew that asbestos mining was hazardous to health but they displayed complete negligence.

b) Factory owners: When asbestos is manufactured, lots of asbestos dust and asbestos fibers are released into the atmosphere. When the workers inhale these, they react adversely with the mesothelium cells in the body. The mesothelium cells start to divide rapidly. They also outlive the other cells leading to tumors. These tumors may also spread throughout the body. This condition is called as mesothelioma. Though the industrialists were aware of all this, they did nothing to safeguard the employees and their families. Thus, the workers carried asbestos dust on their clothes home. This was inhaled by their family members who also succumbed to the disease. Even a little bit of asbestos fiber inhaled once is enough to lead to mesothelioma.

c) Materials Producers: Various materials using asbestos were produced. The owners of these factories were aware of the hazards of asbestos and the substitutes available. However, they did nothing to protect their workers.

d) Insurance companies: There was medical evidence that asbestos was harmful to health. Still, the insurance companies continued to insure the asbestos industry.

Knowledge about the hazards of asbestos:

During the early 18th century itself, the hazards of asbestos were confirmed. Research and studies were done but the results were silenced and dismissed. The Ancient Greeks, who were the first to discover asbestos, also found that the mineral caused harm. The slaves wove asbestos into their clothing. The Greeks found that the lungs of these slaves were damaged and they doubted asbestos to be the cause of the mischief. After that, in the recent past, there were lots of studies that confirmed that asbestos caused lung disorders. Since mesothelioma has a very long latency period between asbestos exposure and onset of disease, the connection between asbestos and mesothelioma was not confirmed till the 1940s. However before the end of the 1930s itself, all the other asbestos-related diseases like asbestosis, fibrosis and asbestos warts were recognized and named. Only after this, slowly, the countries started banning asbestos. UK was the first country to ban asbestos. USA followed suit. Japan had a late awakening. Countries like India and China have still not banned asbestos completely.

Concealment of research results:

Lots of research was done to confirm the hazards of asbestos. However, the rich factory owners and miners concealed the results of the research. They provided no safeguards to the workers. They had no protective clothing, masks or proper ventilation. They had no choice of deciding whether to continue to work in these hazardous companies or not.

The above paragraphs help us to realize the hazards of asbestos and the cause of mesothelioma. This clarity is essential for you to realize that contracting mesothelioma is a danger you are facing because of the evil seeds sown by those few industrialists. Thus, it is your right to sue those evil and selfish people. They have knowingly exposed their employees to the potential risk of mesothelioma. The patients can file claims against employers, asbestos manufacturers and all others who are involved in the mining, manufacture and distribution of asbestos. They are bound to compensate the innocent mesothelioma patients for medical expenses, pain and suffering, emotional suffering, trauma, loss of quality of life and settlement for family members and dependents. Most of the mesothelioma lawyers don't charge any fees. They believe that the settlement given to you will bring a little comfort in this most difficult time and they do not want to spoil it in any way. Therefore, do not hesitate. It is in the best interest of all, if you file a case as soon as you realize you have mesothelioma.

Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Mesothelioma: Causes, Symptoms, Lawsuits And Prevention

What is Mesothelioma? Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that grows on the mesothelium, the membrane or hard sac that surrounds the various organs of the body. It guards the organs by producing a favourite type of fluid to promote mobility of the organs.

In the case of the lungs, mesothelium fluid allows ease in the movement when ingesting air. Mesothelioma tumor can commence on any area of the mesothelium which can be benign or cancerous. Known to be the cause of Mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos.

Asbestos is a heat resistant fibrous mineral wore in the industry as the main material in making roofing, gasket compounds, floor tiles and patching compounds.

Its versatility makes it a component of various products in the market but it is incredibly dangerous when inhaled no matter how tiny the quantity can be.

Inhaled asbestos fiber can pass through the air passages which can come in contact with linings of the lungs which can injure the cells and result to pleural Mesothelioma.

Swallowed asbestos on the even more hand can effect the fibers lined higher on the abdominal cavity resulting to peritoneal Mesothelioma. There are as well evidences that link Mesothelioma with Thorotrast, a component used for X-rays however its usage has been stopped for a long time.

The symptoms and signs of Mesothelioma can be incredibly common that is why the patient may just take it for granted. The symptoms can occur from both to three months before Mesothelioma is discovered.

Pleural Mesothelioma is the ordinarily occurring type which takes part in almost both thirds of the total detected Mesothelioma cases. The linings of the lungs and chest called pleura are the affected regions of Pleural Mesothelioma.

Common signs are weight loss however not related with shift in diet, extreme tiredness, difficulty in ingesting, raspy or hoarse voice, constant shortness of breath, cough that have lasted for a long time, pain the chest or back, extreme sweating and recurring fever.

For Peritoneal Mesothelioma, usually affected organs of the body are bowel, liver and spleen with signs that are similar to bowel related diseases.

Early symptoms include imposition on the abdomen area, recurring constipation or diarrhea, increase in the waist area, infection, vomiting, fever and even anemia.

Anyone who encounters these symptoms that have been exposed to asbestos can better consult their doctor for diagnosis to stop further Mesothelioma complicated problems.

Prevention of Mesothelioma can be best done by avoiding contact with asbestos which is proven to be its main causing professional. Asbestos is observed almost everywhere can it be at home, at work or in any public buildings.

Workers included with it must take extra care and precautions to avoid contact through inhalation or drinking. Low rates of Mesothelioma cases are discovered for the past 20 years however nowadays, the number of affected individuals has been growing to a large degree.

In United States almost 2,000 new cases are observed each year. It happens mostly with men since it's ordinarily the ones included in business and cases that include the apply of asbestos.

Factory workers, miners, railroad laborers, gas mask makers, insulation workers and ship builders are the typically asbestos related victims.

The patients or the individuals affected with Mesothelioma can file lawsuits against asbestos makers, manufacturers and employers since they have the duty to protect their workers from the negative effects of asbestos including Mesothelioma.

Many law firms and lawyers are today available to help the sufferers fight for their right and to attain the justice that they deserve.

Thursday, October 4, 2007

Medical View of Mesothelioma

More than 8 million people have been exposed to asbestos and are at risk of succumbing to mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is caused when the mesothelium cells start to divide rapidly leading to cancer. The only known cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos fibers. The disease has a very long latency period, sometimes even around 60 years. The disease has no known cure and death becomes inevitable.

It is also very hard to correctly diagnose the disease in the early stages, as the symptoms of the disease are similar to other non-malignant diseases like pneumonia. The asbestos fiber, which is light and invisible, is released during mining and manufacture of asbestos. It is inhaled easily through nose and mouth and affects the mesothelium lining of the body part that it comes into contact with. This sets off the mesothelium cells rapid division operation, resulting in tumors. The mesothelium lining can be found in the organs like lungs, abdomen and heart.

Depending on this, mesothelioma can be classified into three categories: § Pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lungs, § Peritoneal mesothelioma, which affects the abdomen, and § Pericardial mesothelioma, which affects the heart.

Due to the long latency period of the disease, people who have worked in asbestos-related factories in their youth may contract the disease in their old age during or after retirement. Many of them may have shifted many jobs by this time and they do not relate their condition to asbestos exposure. Thus, they do not consider mesothelioma as an occupational disease. They face huge sorrow at having to part with their loved ones in such a tragic way.

Life of Jack Daws

Jack Daws was working as a tutor in the rural regions of Pennsylvania. He had a beautiful wife and a handsome son. He had what is called as a perfect family! They were always supportive and co-operative. They had enduring love and constant hope on each other.

Jack Daws loved his job as he loved kids of all ages and all sizes. He was the coach of the local soccer team during weekends. When Jack was around 55 years, he was planning on getting a retirement from the school where he tutored in another year or two.

At this crucial point of time, Jack slowly started realizing something was wrong with his health. He felt a constant pain in his chest and severe shortness of breath. He, his family and his doctor dismissed all these symptoms as a cause of aging, initially. But, slowly, his condition started to worsen. He felt as if a heavy weight has been placed on his chest. Also, he started losing weight rapidly. By now, the doctor also started sensing that something was wrong with Jack. The doctor conducted a whole lot of tests on Jack. One of the tests that were conducted was to study the fluids & cells in his lungs. After this test, the doctor felt that it appeared cancerous. Further tests followed to make the right diagnosis. It was, finally, confirmed. Jack suffered from 'Pleural Mesothelioma', I.e. mesothelioma affecting the lungs. Doctors felt that Jack had only another year or two of life on earth. Jack started analyzing how he contracted mesothelioma. He had never worked in any asbestos-related industries. Slowly, it dawned on Jack. Lots of construction and painting work used to be done on in his school.

Due to his long career at the school, he was constantly exposed to asbestos dust, which was used during the painting work. The company, which did the job for the school, did not take any safeguards to protect, anyone. Jack was advised to initiate proceedings against the company. The company did not disclose the dangers of asbestos and behaved in a selfish profit-oriented manner.

When Jack initiated proceeding against the company, it was found that lots of people have already sued the company for the same reason and have won their cases. Thus, the Company did not want to go into lengthy and expensive legal proceedings. They agreed to go in for an out-of-court settlement. After negotiations, the company paid Jack around a million dollars for the health damages he suffered and around two million dollars for his family-dependents. Jack underwent treatment at a cancer center. The cancer was spread all around his body and surgery was ruled out for him. Jack underwent chemotherapy and lived a life of suffering for the next two years. After that he succumbed to the disease. However, his soul will rest in peace as he has provided a safe and comfortable settlement for his loving family members.