Center provides help for victims of mesothelioma

North Carolina reports its share of mesothelioma cases. The Mesothelioma Compensation Center receives countless calls from families of loved ones who have died from this deadly disease. The message they want to communicate is to not procrastinate in putting your affairs in order.

It is recommended that family members and victims draw up a will, as well as choose someone to act in their behalf should they become too ill to do so.

A power of attorney or agent can make decisions for you regarding medical care and financial affairs. The person you choose as your agent can do much to ease your mind as you transition through the challenges of first diagnosis and impending illness.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports the average victim diagnosed with mesothelioma is around 72 years old. While frequently misdiagnosed as pneumonia, the diagnosis will shake the lives of almost 3,000 U.S. citizens a year.

Those most likely to get mesothelioma are individuals who during the 50s to the 70ss were employed at refineries, factories, power plants, manufacturing plans or construction sites. Many plumbers, oil workers, electricians and Navy veterans frequently have worked for prolonged periods of time around high-risk areas containing asbestos.

The center stresses that their priority is connecting people in need with people who can help. They explain that estate management may not be first and foremost on a sick person’s mind — or his or her families — but that it is critical to establish a trusted agent to act in your best interests.

The center receives calls from almost every state in the nation, including North Carolina. If you suspect a loved one has come down with mesothelioma, it is in your best interest to contact an experienced legal professional who can provide advice on seeking compensation from the responsible parties.

Source: ABC 12, “Mesothelioma Compensation Center Now Educates Diagnosed Victims on What an “Agent” or “Attorney in Fact” Is and How It Relates to Having Power of Attorney and Their Estate” No author given, May. 30, 2014