A news report published in a popular British publication reveals that asbestos killed nine times more military veterans than the Taliban did during the Afghanistan war, and that over nine years, the country’s Ministry of Defense paid a total of £112.5million (roughly $150 million) to 803 terminally ill veterans suffering from mesothelioma. The report adds that the British Occupational Hygiene Society has indicated that military veterans may be up to ten times more likely to develop an asbestos-related disease than the general public.
Compensation for Mesothelioma and Asbestos Disease Victims at Issue in the UK
In the face of these statistics, as well as annual Health and Safety Executive figures indicating that a similar number of veterans have died from asbestosis and other asbestos-related lung cancers, it is understandable that veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases are demanding fair compensation; victims exposed to asbestos during military service are generally offered significantly less money and fewer benefits than what is offered to civilians.
The statistic reported in The Daily Mail cites 3,560 mesothelioma and asbestos-related deaths among UK veterans compared to 405 from hostile Taliban actions. American veterans, as well as those who’ve served for the United Kingdom, have historically faced a greater risk of asbestos exposure than is true of civilians. This is because the material was so frequently used in ships and other military assets, as well as exposure from deteriorating structures that they enter while deployed.
United Kingdom Continues to Face High Number of Mesothelioma and Asbestos Deaths
The United Kingdom, and Britain in particular, has seen a significant number of mesothelioma and asbestos-related deaths attributed to occupational exposure, with more than 5,000 deaths per year blamed on the mineral. While some are urging a comprehensive asbestos abatement program to remove legacy asbestos that has been in place for decades, others are working to achieve parity for veterans, who until 2016 weren’t able to claim any compensation from the country’s Ministry of Defense at all for exposure-related illnesses.
Though that aspect of immunity was eliminated and a pension program offering either a weekly or monthly pension or a one-off payment of £140,000 was created for victims, that amount has not been increased since it was introduced. The Ministry of Defense has defended this by pointing out that there is a lower bar of proof of exposure for veterans than is required of civilians.
Mesothelioma victims in the United States have many more options than do those in other countries. If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, a quick chat with one of the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net can show you a wide range of options and resources available to you. For information, call us today at 1-800-692-8608.
