Mesothelioma Law Blog

Recent reports claim a warehouse owner is going to be slapped with several penalties after he allowed asbestos to be illegally removed from his business. The owner is reportedly in violation of New York state regulations.
 
The owner of Fort Knox Self Storage, located in Middletown, New York, West Solloway, claims he found material containing asbestos in the building in June. It was the property owner’s responsibility to have the asbestos properly removed. Solloway says he filed several complaints about the asbestos discovery to the city and state. He also says he informed the city and state about the improper asbestos removal, noticing workers were not were not wearing protection, which is the legal way to remove the toxic substance, while they were working on the building.
 
The warehouse is also used to house a program run by the Family Empowerment Council. The organization reportedly provides services to those who are living with disabilities and their families.
 
Ilegal Asbestos Removal Revealed

Earlier this month a city building inspector supposedly saw workers about to leave the warehouse in a van containing bags of asbestos-containing materials. The inspector immediately shut down the project and sealed off the entire area.

Under New York state law, asbestos removal is only to be done by state-certified contractors. They are to use certified workers, proper procedures and proper safety equipment. Contractors are also obligated to give the state at least 10 days notice of any work being done involving asbestos, and must have a valid permit to work with and handle the substance.

The property owner is going to be cited for failing to use a certified contractor for the removal of the asbestos, for involving workers not qualified to work with and around asbestos, and for doing the entire job improperly and illegally.

A man who recently passed away from mesothelioma has left behind a video and hope for all those who continue to struggle with this rare, yet deadly illness. Even after his death the man, who was a resident of England, continues to lobby against his government and governments worldwide in an effort to help others who have victimized by asbestos exposure.

Man Exposed to Asbestos at Work

The man who has sparked worldwide attention and hope to all suffering from mesothelioma and other cancers reportedly was the victim of workplace asbestos exposure and as a result developed the deadly illness. Allen Clark was reportedly employed for many years as a thermal insulation engineer at various places through Great Britain.

It was during his hardworking career that he was unknowingly exposed to asbestos. Asbestos is a toxic substance that was once widely used in construction and at many factors for its durability. However, in the 1970′s this material became illegal in the United States due to the health risks it posed.

Nine years ago, Clark was diagnosed with pleural plaques, which is typically an illness that leads to mesothelioma. Earlier this year, he was diagnosed with mesothelioma and told he had less than six months to live. The news was obviously difficult for Clark and his family, but he knew he had little time to sit around without taking action. Up until his death, Clark continued to lobby with the government to be compensated for the wrongdoing bestowed upon him. He was also very vocal about his attempts to receive the compensation on behalf of others, just like him, who were also suffering from this deadly disease.

In a last attempt to reach the government and other mesothelioma victims, Clark made a video he entitled “Hope” which will be screened at the Trade Union Congress conference later this week. His struggle, fight, and the video are to serve as a reminder of Clark and as inspiration to all those who have been exposed to asbestos and have developed health problems as a result.

What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that affects the tissues surrounding the lungs and line the inside of the chest cavity. It’s long latency period, many may not develop symptoms for decades, makes it a unique and drawn out type of illness. It is also a rare cancer due to the fact that early symptoms are much like those of a common cold, flu, or bronchitis. This makes the illness very hard for doctors to diagnose.

According to research, an estimated 90 percent of mesothelioma cases are attributed to exposure to asbestos. Although there is currently no cure for the disease, researchers are working vigorously to find better treatments and a possible cure, while mesothelioma attorneys continue to fight for victims to be compensated for their deteriorating health.

Receiving a mesothelioma diagnosis can be very difficult; living with the illness can also be trying. For those living with mesothelioma, a rare cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, and management is a critical. It can significantly improve the quality of life for a patient to receive care that does not involve the use of medication and prescription drugs.  

A recent study conducted by the American Cancer Society analyzed the potential of social-cognitive therapy to help mesothelioma using pain management. The American Cancer Society is reportedly sponsoring a randomized trial known as the Cancer Health Empowerment for Living without Pain (Can-HELP) Study in Sacramento, California.

The study looked at 265 patients living with mesothelioma who were experiencing at least moderate pain or pain-related to impairment. The participants were randomly assigned to get either an education or coaching (TEC) program specifically designed for them or receive educationally-enhanced usual care (EUC).

Programs Used to Analyze Mesothelioma Patients

TEC is comprised of six components– assess, correct, teach, prepare, rehearse and portray. It is solely based on social-cognitive theory. Of the 265 patients who partook in the mesothelioma study, 258 of them had at least one follow-up assessment. Both programs were used as interventions and were provided to the patient for an estimated 30 minutes before they had their oncology visits.

The data from the study was collected at two, six and twelve weeks, so researchers could determine outcomes related to anxiety, pain severity and impairment, patient-physician communication, self-efficacy for pain control, functional status and well-being.

The results of the study are still being prepared but according to researchers, if the outcome proves to be a success and pain management plays as big a role as researchers are anticipating, it will be used across the country for mesothelioma patients at an affordable cost.