Australian Mesothelioma Lawsuits Expected to Rise in Near Future

While the United States is currently experiencing an influx of asbestos-related lawsuits throughout the country, the state of Victoria, Australia is also expecting to deal with similar issues over the next several years.

Recent estimates predict there will be about 800 new cases filed this year alone, which is much higher than the 600 cases that were filed in 2005. Today, asbestos-related claims in Victoria, Australia already make up nearly a quarter of all law cases currently filed.

Many of these lawsuits stem from patients who have contracted mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure. While the majority of mesothelioma incidences affect the lining of the lungs (pleural mesothelioma), other areas of the body that are known to contract the disease include the lining of the heart (pericardial mesothelioma) and abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma).

Industries that have been significantly impacted by the disease include the shipyard, construction and automotive industry. James Hardie Industries, a company based in Australia, has especially been noted for exposing residents to asbestos.

Unfortunately, verdicts for mesothelioma lawsuits typically arrive when the victim has already passed away. This is largely due to the fact that a mesothelioma prognosis is usually less than one year once a person has been diagnosed with the disease.

However, in an attempt for Australian mesothelioma victims to see justice served before it’s too late, the current court system is operating under orders to fast track asbestos litigation.

In addition to lawsuits, Australia is also experiencing an increase in mesothelioma victims seeking treatment, as the number of patients has doubled at some Victorian hospitals in just two years. Doctors believe the sudden increase is from the improved treatment option Alimta.

Alimta, in combination with cisplatin, is the first and only chemotherapy agent to be FDA-approved for the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma in patients whose disease is unresectable and is not a candidate for surgery.

While the amount of asbestos lawsuits filed in Australia is expected to climb, the number of lives claimed from asbestos-related disease is estimated to rise as well. For many, asbestos exposure has been considered to be Australia’s worst industrial problem.

For more information on mesothelioma and asbestos exposure in Australia, please visit the Mesothelioma Cancer Center.

This entry was posted on Friday, March 6th, 2009 at 3:42 pm and is filed under Asbestos Exposure, Asbestos Litigation, Mesothelioma. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS feed. Responses are currently closed, but you trackback from your own site.