Campaign for pleural plaques compensation
Added (2009-Feb-09)
The daughter of a man who was recently diagnosed with pleural plaques has launched a campaign over the issue of compensation.
James Johnson was told by doctors that he suffers from the condition - a form of scarring of the outer lining of the lung which is an indication of previous exposure to asbestos.
The 71-year-old former cable installer and power station worker is now concerned that he may go on to develop cancer, north-east newspaper the Evening Chronicle reports.
His daughter, Vicky, has begun collecting signatures for a petition designed to put pressure on the government to reverse the decision of a recent test case in the House of Lords which prevented pleural plaques sufferers from seeking payouts.
She said: "I love my dad to bits and it was heart-breaking when I found out he had pleural plaques. I was absolutely devastated."
Ms Johnson added that she has met a lot of people who have the condition as a result of her campaign to get signatures.
Please Call Me Back