You may be eligible for compensation to help with asbestosis medical expenses

An issue of accountability

Jerry and Edna Oikle both suffered from asbestosis, triggered by years of living in Libby, Montana, where a vermiculite mine contaminated the town’s unsuspecting residents with dangerous asbestos dust for decades.  After a January 2000 investigative report by the Seattle Post-Intelligencernewspaper revealed that hundreds of illnesses and deaths in Libby were caused by the asbestos contamination from the mine, the company that operated it, W.R. Grace & Co., promised to pay medical expenses for residents who were suffering from asbestos-related diseases; however, the company that administered the medical claims for W.R. Grace controversially turned away many of the people who were sick. This left many of the town’s residents, including the Oikles, to pay for needed medical care out of their own pocket. The medical expenses for a patient with asbestosis, lung cancer, mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. 

"They ought to be ashamed of this," said Dr. Brad Black, a health officer at the Center for Asbestos-Related Disease clinic in Libby. "It demonstrates a lack of concern and caring." Dr. Alan Whitehouse, a physician who treated about 400 patients from Libby said that "this is an issue of accountability. Grace did it. They should be paying for it."

As one of the nation’s leading law firms, Weitz & Luxenberg has specialized in asbestos litigation for over two decades. Please continue to visit our website for further updates and information on the medical expenses associated with asbestosis and other asbestos-related diseases.

Sherry Cohenour was one of the patients who were denied medical services under W.R. Grace’s medical plan. Her father died of an asbestos-related disease at the age of 50.

In 2002, Cohenour started gasping to breathe. Medical tests later showed that she had scarring in her lungs caused by inhaling asbestos fibers, one of the main symptoms of asbestosis. Her doctor prescribed medication to help her breathe and told her to apply for the mining company’s medical plan. Cohenour found out afterwards that she'd been turned down for coverage. "I was furious and then scared," she said. "[I] can't afford the doctor's bill." Cohenour has no other health insurance and can no longer work as a housekeeper because of her condition.  

Medical Treatments

Asbestosis is one of the most common diseases caused by exposure to asbestos. When asbestos fibers or dust are inhaled, they penetrate the breathing passages and can scar lung tissue. In advanced cases, the lungs shrink, stiffen, and become riddled with tiny holes.

Although there is currently no cure to reverse the effects of asbestos on the lungs, medical treatment can help to prevent the progression of the disease and relieve symptoms.  Unfortunately these treatments can become costly and time-consuming, particularly if the asbestosis is diagnosed at a later stage.  Some of the more common treatment options include:

Breathing Therapy

A doctor may prescribe supplemental oxygen to ease difficulty breathing. This is delivered by thin plastic tubing that has two prongs that fit into the patient’s nostrils.

Medications 
Asbestosis-related breathing problems are sometimes helped by the use of prescription inhalers which are more commonly used by people who have asthma.

Surgery
For severe cases of advanced asbestosis, a lung transplant may become necessary.

Compensation for expenses

As noted in the cases above, the long-term medical costs associated with asbestosis can be considerably high. There are also often other related expenses that will arise because of the condition, such as wages from missed work, not to mention the pain and suffering that the patient must endure.

If you or someone you love developed asbestosis, they were exposed to asbestos illegally, and they deserve justice. In order for us to help you as soon as possible, please contact us right away.  An asbestosis lawsuit can help you recover the cost of medical bills, lost wages and other expenses.Your uncle may be eligible to receive compensation to help pay for necessary medical treatment and ensure the best care possible. Filing a legal claim can also help to hold the company that caused the exposure accountable.

For over two decades, Weitz & Luxenberg P.C. has handled some of the most legally complicated and groundbreaking asbestos litigation in the country. We have achieved more mass tort verdicts and settlements than most firms in America. If you would like a free consultation or more information about your legal options, please complete the form on this page, and a representative of our law firm will contact you as soon as possible.

Sources:

http://www.seattlepi.com/national/70649_libby16.shtml

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/asbestosis/DS00482/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs