On January 11, 2016, billionaire oncologist Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong announced the Cancer MoonShot 2020—the nation’s first insurance-covered coalition to speed the development of what researchers believe could be a powerful weapon against cancer—potent combinations of new drugs that harness the body’s immune system.
This national coalition is a collaboration between pharmaceutical giants, Fortune 500 companies, academic institutions and medical oncologists that will design, initiate and complete randomized clinical trials in cancer patients with cancer at all stages of disease in up to 20 tumor types in as many as 20,000 patients by the year 2020.
This exciting initiative ushers in a new age of medicine that aims to find a cure for cancer once and for all. And, in terms of workers’ compensation, this unprecedented collaboration is an opportunity to advance worker health, achieve a better medical delivery system, reduce costs and strengthen the social remedial benefit program.
In 2015, an estimated 1,658,370 new cancer cases were diagnosed and 589,430 cancer deaths were reported in the United States. Job-related cancer makes up one of the largest percentages of occupational deaths and related costs in the United States, and, to compound this, cancer is a complicated issue for workers’ compensation providers.
Whereas other work-related traumas, such as broken bones, are relatively simple to diagnosis and link to working conditions, cancer is difficult to attribute to a specific causal factor. This is primarily because cancer takes many years to develop and there are multiple originators for the disease. The burden of proof is often on the workers to show that an occupational illness is genuinely linked to harmful situations and conditions on the job, and many times, a direct link must be made between a known carcinogenic agent and a cancer diagnosis.
With the Cancer Moonshot 2020 attempting to cure several types of cancer, the complication of work-related cancers will be greatly diminished. Despite these difficulties, employees should remember that they are always eligible for benefits under Florida law if they contract work-related cancer. If you suspect a cancer diagnosis is attributed to harmful work conditions, it is important to contact a strategic, aggressive trial lawyer to help determine liability and collect damages for your medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.
The Law Firm of Hoskins, Turco, Lloyd & Lloyd has helped thousands of employees seek reimbursement for financial and intangible losses due to workplace accidents and conditions. Our workers’ compensation attorneys have a thorough understanding of Florida’s complex workers’ compensation laws, and they can protect your rights and guide you through the difficult claims process. We take all cases on a contingency fee, meaning we never charge you any fees unless we recover a settlement on your behalf, and, consultations in any of our four offices in Port St. Lucie, Vero Beach, Fort Pierce, and Okeechobee are always free. Don’t delay your case!
For your complimentary initial appointment, call today 866-460-1990.
