Asbestos news
03/09/2008

Pleural plaques compensation opposed by insurers

The Association of British Insurers has told Scottish Parliament's justice committee that it would be a mistake to implement new laws allowing people to claim compensation for the asbestos-related condition pleural plaques.

Nick Starling, a spokesperson with the ABI, commented, "Pleural plaques are benign. They do not have any symptoms associated with them, except in the most exceptional of cases.

"They do not develop into more serious conditions, they are inert biologically."

Several asbestos experts were among those who gave evidence to the committee, including Dr Martin Hogg and Professor Anthony Seaton. Both called for GPs to ensure they were clear in communicating the benign nature of pleural plaques to patients diagnosed with the condition, so that they would not be confused into thinking they had a fatal asbestos-related condition such as mesothelioma.

Dr Hogg stated his belief that pleural plaques should not be considered a compensable condition. "The bill represents, in my opinion, a worrying trend of modern government to interfere in decisions of the courts made according to orthodox principles and reasoning which have served the law well for many generations," he said.

However, it is widely anticipated that the bill will come into force with the backing of both the SNP and the Labour Party, allowing those affected to begin their claims by contacting personal injury lawyers.