Family of asbestos victim may seek compensation

The family of a woman who died from an asbestos-related cancer are seeking legal advice with a view to making a claim for compensation, it has emerged.

Maureen Gardiner contracted mesothelioma, a disease which can affect the tissue lining the lungs or the abdomen, and died in December last year, the Gloucester Citizen reports.

During a recent hearing, pathologist Dr Richard Bryan confirmed that during a post mortem he had found asbestos in her lungs.

He stated that he was "absolutely sure" that she had developed the disease by shaking her husband's clothes to get rid of asbestos dust.

However, he recorded a verdict of accidental death because industrial disease can only be recorded if the illness arose as a result of the employment of the deceased.

Commenting on the case, Ms Gardiner's son, Alan, said: "It was as a direct result of Dad working with asbestos that she died so the verdict should be the same so that compensation is automatic instead of having to be fought for in the courts."

14/11/2008 15:19