Mesothelioma Medical

A report says that asbestos compensation is much less in England and Wales than that in Scotland. According to the report, UK and Wales families who have suffered a bereavement caused by asbestos generally receive a compensation which is tens of thousands of pounds less than Scotland families with the similar situation.

In England and Wales, the compensation level is set at £10,000 where as widows in Scotland often receive a compensation of around £30,000. The reason is that the compensation paid to bereaved spouses is a fixed amount of £10,000 as per Fatal Accidents Act 1976. But in Scotland, it's the court that decide the amount of compensation.

A campaign has been launched by Law firm Thompsons for all sufferers and their families regardless of the place in the UK where they are living. This campaign calls for a change in the law to bring payments into line with Scotland.

"The law must be changed to ensure families in England and Wales are entitled to the same level of compensation as the equivalent family in Scotland. Any imbalance is unjust and cannot continue," said Ian McFall, the head of asbestos policy.

According to McFall, £10,000 is a ludicrous sum to compensate a family which is suffering due to the loss of a loved one. "Whole families suffer terribly when they lose a loved one to mesothelioma. They carry the emotional burden for the rest of their lives," he said.

Des McNulty, a leading campaigner for victims of mesothelioma at the Scottish Parliament and the Labour candidate for Clydebank said that Scotland had worked hard to achieve the levels of compensation it awards to the families of asbestos victims.

"There is a strong consensus in Scotland for proper levels of compensation for asbestos victims and I would hope that similar consideration is given to those suffering from this dreadful disease south of the border," he said.

In the United Kingdom almost 2000 people a year are diagnosed with mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that affects the Mesothelium, which is a thin membrane that lines the inner surface of the chest wall where it is known as the pleura, and abdomen, where it is known as the peritoneum. There is no known cure for this deadly disease.