Black lung back in the spotlight after three decades
Coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (CWP) – otherwise known as black lung – has re-emerged as a threat in Australia more than 30 years after experts believed the disease had been eradicated. Since late 2015, CWP cases have filtered through the media as a growing number of coal miners were diagnosed with the illness, which develops due […]
Asbestos-disposal firm fined $188,000 for false information
The hazardous nature of asbestos makes the appropriate removal, transportation and disposal of the material an essential task. Anyone exposed to asbestos, even only briefly, can go on to develop a number of deadly diseases, including mesothelioma and asbestosis. Figures from Cancer Institute NSW showed that just 10.5 per cent of people diagnosed with mesothelioma […]
More homeowners are finding asbestos during NSW renovations
While asbestos was completely banned from Australia in 2003, decades of use in a number of common products – particularly in construction and automotive materials – means it still remains a very real risk for people throughout NSW. Because long-term exposure to asbestos fibres can results in mesothelioma and other dust diseases, it's important to report any […]
Why a Melbourne Catholic Church will give a public apology
In addition to monetary compensation, a Catholic Church in Australia is going to give a public apology to a survivor of sexual abuse. This apology will not only be for the initial abuse by a priest when she was a young woman but also because of the mental distress suffered after the church inadequately responded […]
How an institution can be liable in a child abuse case
In recent years, many cases of child abuse in the Catholic Church have surfaced. One priest from New South Wales has recently joined the Church's long list of shame and has pleaded guilty to dozens of crimes. One of the victims has recently come out expressing the anger he feels towards his abuser, The case […]
Life-saving surgery for those suffering with asbestos-related diseases
Highly complex surgery is being used to help extend the lives of those suffering from asbestos-related diseases, including Mesothelioma. However, a lack of doctors qualified to perform the operation is causing a backlog. While there is a bottleneck, seeking surgery and other treatments should still be a priority. The first step to this is ensuring […]
Cancer patients at higher risk of suicide
Cancer is a disease that can transform how a person lives their life. From breast cancer to asbestos-caused mesothelioma, the changes can be both negative or positive. However, one of the unwanted side effects of cancer is the increased likelihood of suicide and mental illness. The government is not dim to this fact and has implemented new […]
Study finds informed consent failures result in most negligence claims
The Medical Journal of Australia has pinpointed some of the root causes of medical negligence mistakes that continue to harm patients. The 2011 study by five research fellows and medical practitioners aimed to work out the characteristics, frequency and outcomes of disputes over informed consent resulting in medical negligence claims. First, the conclusion The study found […]
Lung disease amongst miners: is the situation getting worse?
The NSW Minister for Industry, Resources and Energy Anthony Roberts has commended current workplace health and safety laws for supposedly helping reduce lung disease amongst miners, but not everyone is convinced black lung is being properly addressed. Roberts praised the NSW coal industry for trying to prevent occupational diseases such as black lung and silicosis. This follows […]
How did we end up with so much asbestos?
Asbestos is a material at first thought to be extremely useful when it was first used in the 1800s. It took over 100 years before we realised the best way to think of asbestos was extremely harmful. It’s often thought of as an industrial concern, but asbestos remains in millions of houses. The Department of […]
