Pleural plaques compensation campaigners question govt report

Campaigners fighting for the reinstatement of the right for people with pleural plaques to seek compensation have raised questions over an expert's opinions cited by the government in its consultation.

According to those keen to see the decision of the Law Lords to prevent those with the condition from getting money overturned, one of the medical specialists whose documents were used in the case against payouts had no expertise in the field of asbestos, the Morning Star Online reports.

The publication noted that Professor Robert Maynard's report, Medical Aspects of Pleural Plaques, is one of two documents used by the Ministry of Justice.

However, while he has expertise in air pollution, he has no similar level of knowledge in the area of asbestos diseases, it claims.

Ucatt general secretary Alan Ritchie said: "It is outrageous that the person tasked with writing such an influential report was not an expert in this field and had never met a pleural plaques victim."

As well as pleural plaques, exposure to asbestos can lead to mesothelioma and asbestosis, among other conditions.