Mesothelioma Awareness and Compensation Project
Posted on December 13, 2011 2:56 pm
The "Mesothelioma Awareness and Compensation Project" being undertaken by the UBC Centre for Health Services and Policy Research (CHSPR) is attempting to find out why some victims and their families fail to report workplace related exposures that have caused asbestos related cancers.
A key part of their study (through an interview process with mesothelioma victims and/or their immediate family members) is to investigate why individuals do, or do not, seek compensation. There are many hypotheses, but their study is attempting to determine what actually impacts the decision.
There are currently only four participants for this part of the study and they are actually all female. Due to patient/doctor confidentiality, the way that the researchers get participants is through the patient's doctor informing them of the study and the patient, and/or an immediate family member, then agreeing to participate. Apparently the doctors must inform their patients in person, which slows down the process of informing them of the study. The researchers need to find another way of reaching mesothelioma victims and their family members to let them know about the study and to hopefully increase participation. They also have no way of reaching out to family members of mesothelioma victims who have passed away.
Suhail Marino has invited Building Trades union members to learn more or become involved in the research project. Suhail says you're welcome to contact her directly to get more information about the project and to ask her questions - phone 604.822.8544 or email smarino@chspr.ubc.ca.
FYI - They are also investigating why physicians may or may not provide advice or recommendations to patients on occupational disease and compensation, as a primary and important contact in the compensation process. This part of the study is going well, as the BC Cancer Agency made a targeted request to physicians and the physicians have been very accommodating.
To learn more about the study, please visit the CHSPR website: