What are Pleural Plaques?
The most common injury caused by asbestos exposure
is pleural plaques, which appear as white or yellow
thickening on the pleura. They often appear frequently
bilateral (involving both lungs) and symmetric and occur particularly on the posterolateral
chest wall between the 5th and 8th ribs, over the mediastinal pleura and on the
dome of the diaphragm.
Pleural plaques typically develops 20-30 years after exposure and
appear more commonly if the patient has had exposure to asbestos heavily or over
a long period of time. They develop in, as many as, 50% of asbestos exposed
workers, but may also occur after low dose exposures.
Studies indicate that patients with extensive pleural plaques
do have restricted lung function. This is often
presumed the result of underlying asbestosis that x-rays have not detected.
Unlike pleural thickening, x-rays can easily detect the well defined
margins of pleural plaques.
It is not possible to claim compensation for pleural plaques in England and Wales.
However, in Scotland, The Damages (Asbestos-Related Conditions) (Scotland) Bill enables victims to continue to claim compensation
through the courts for pleural plaques, pleural thickening and asbestos-related conditions.
Current situation for claiming compensation for Pleural Plaques
On 9 July 2008, the government published a consultation paper on pleural plaques. The consultation paper considers the issue as to whether changing the law of negligence would or would not be appropriate. One proposal which the government does however seem to be quite committed to is the need to improve understanding and raise awareness of the nature of pleural plaques. The government has invited comments and views from all interested parties in relation to its various proposals by 1 October 2008. The government is committed to finding redress for people with pleural plaques and expects to announce its decision in November 2008. (For further information please read our latest news article.)
- Case law - On 17 October 2007, the House of Lords rejected the claims of innocent victims of asbestos who received a pleural plaques diagnosis. They rejected the claims on the basis that they had not suffered a "compensatable injury". (For further background information please read our Guide to Pleural Plaques
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