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Many eminent trade union leaders, MPs and
other activists spoke at the lobby. Dr Rudd also spoke and set out
in detail the information he had provided to a Government Minister.
He stated:
“If a model sustains a facial
injury which leaves a scar which makes her look less attractive, an
‘anatomical injury’, she will be entitled to substantial damages
even though the ‘physiological function’ of her face has not been
in any way impaired. The law already allows compensation of persons
who do not even have any ‘anatomical damage’ demonstrable. Perhaps
the best example is where a person receives an injection that, for
a while, is thought to be contaminated with human immunodeficiency
virus (HIV). Although the only physical injury is puncture of the
skin by a needle, damages are awarded for the psychological
consequences of it being thought (even if erroneously) that the
injection might have transmitted HIV infection. It must be at least
equally appropriate to award damages to persons who are
acknowledged to have been negligently exposed to asbestos, who have
suffered ‘anatomical injury’ i.e. pleural plaques, and who are at
significant, and in some cases large, long term risks of lung
cancer and mesothelioma. To restore the status quo ante would cost
the public purse nothing and would assuage the strong sense of
injustice felt by thousands of people who have sustained exposure
to asbestos through their employer’s negligence, some of whom
already have pleural plaques, some of whom will develop pleural
plaques in the future and some of whom will develop and die from
more serious asbestos related diseases in the future.”
MPs Mick Clapham, Jim Sheridan, David
Anderson, Andrew Dismore and Stephen Hepburn are due to meet the
Prime Minister, Gordon Brown to discuss matters further.
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The photo shows lobbyists standing
outside the House of Commons on 28 October 2009.
The photo shows John Cruddas MP,
Jimmy Parrish GMB, Dr Robin Rudd, Rodney Nelson-Jones, Tony Kent
GMB.
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