Mesothelioma Litigation

A former nurse in the UK is reportedly seeking compensation from the hospital she worked for after she claims she developed malignant mesothelioma as a result of being exposed to asbestos at the facility.

The St. Helens Star reports that 62-year-old Catherine Potter claims she endured the asbestos exposure while working at the former St. Helens Hospital for five years beginning in 1979.

Since that time, Potter claims she has developed malignant mesothelioma, a rare form of asbestos-related cancer that occurs in the tissues surrounding a majority of the body's internal organs.

In her compensation claim, Potter contends that she used to clean parts of the hospital that contained asbestos and sweep up the dust and fibers that became loosened during the work.

Nurse claims hospital was negligent

Potter, who became a healthcare assistant after working in the cleaning role for five years, claims that the conditions at the hospital had not changed when she returned to work at the facility.

In the compensation claim, she adds that she was never warned about the dangers of inhaling the dangerous mineral fibers nor was she ever given any protective clothing. She accuses hospital officials of acting negligently for failing to properly care for and protect her from serious health hazards, according to the lawsuit.

She also claims that the hospital was negligent for allowing her to continue working in an area that contained loose asbestos fibers.

Potter seeks help from former co-workers

An asbestos attorney for Potter told the news source that the National Health Service Trust in the UK is disputing the asbestos exposure claims made by his client, "despite the fact that we have evidence that she was [exposed]."

As a result, the mesothelioma lawyer is seeking out Potter's former co-workers and asking them to come forward to share similar stories of asbestos exposure at the workplace during their tenures.

"It would be extremely helpful if anyone who worked at St Helens Hospital, particularly Bishop and Pilkington wards in the 1970s and 1980s can contact me," the asbestos attorney explained.

Serious health risks associated with asbestos

In addition to mesothelioma, exposure to asbestos has also been proven to cause the development of lung cancer and asbestosis.

All told, the World Health Organization estimates that approximately 107,000 people around the world die each year as a result of an asbestos-related disease.