Asbestos-related disease--a preventable burden.

摘要

On Nov 21, the High Court of England and Wales made a landmark ruling that will allow patients with an asbestos-related cancer-mesothelioma-to claim compensation from insurers of the companies they were employed by when exposed to the carcinogen. Previous laws stated that liability lay with the employer at the time of disease presentation. As this is often 25-40 years after exposure to asbestos, and as many companies now have exemptions for asbestos in their insurance policies, mesothelioma patients were faced with a difficult battle. The new ruling rightly ensures that companies in which the exposure occurred are liable for compensation.