“We have been fighting for our 9/11 heroes since the beginning, and will never forget the ultimate sacrifices they have made.” said Matthew J. McCauley, Esq.
Port Washington, New York (PRWEB) July 02, 2014
Parker Waichman LLP, a personal injury law firm that has spent many years working to ensure that all of the heroes of 9/11 are not forgotten, applauds the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program on its third anniversary. According to Dr. John Howard, the program’s administrator, since the Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act was put in place in 2011, the program has become a recognized force in healthcare and research focused on 9/11 victims. The program services over 67,000 people, which includes close to 4,000 new members this year, alone, from July 1, 2013-June 30, 2014, according to Dr. Howard’s July 1, 2014 announcement on 911HealthWatch.
"As we mark the third anniversary of the WTC Health Program on July 1, 2014, I’d like to acknowledge our members, reflect on our achievements, and thank the many organizations that ensure our collective success,” said Dr. Howard. The program approved more than 8,000 new health condition certifications that include over 1,700 cancer certifications. Each of these certifications represents a member who will now be able to receive important medical treatment, according to the announcement on 911HealthWatch report.
Matthew J. McCauley, a former NYPD Officer, WTC First Responder, and Senior Litigation Counsel and leading attorney in the WTC/Zadroga group at Parker Waichman LLP, notes that the firm has been working for many years in collaboration with Ground Zero First Responders and continues to advocate for additional benefits under the Zadroga Act. The Act provides benefits to first responders injured in the 9/11 rescue and recovery efforts. “The firm vows to continue in its work to ensure these heroes receive all of the Zadroga Act compensation they require and deserve,” said Mr. McCauley.
Earlier this year, four cancers were included in the list of cancers covered by the Zadroga 9/11 law. In fact, in legal documents dated January 8, 2014, Dr. Howard indicated that a number of provisions were made to the Zadroga Act (Docket No. CDC-2014-0004; NIOSH-268). The definition of “rare cancers” covered under the Zadroga Act was revised to include two new cancers—malignant neoplasm of the cervix uteri (invasive cervical cancer) and malignant neoplasm of the testis (testicular cancer), according to the document. Dr. Howard also recently reversed a prior policy that considered cancers of the brain and pancreas ineligible, and so-called “childhood cancers” were revised to include any type of cancer diagnosed in a person who is younger than 20 years of age.
At the time, Mr. McCauley announced that, “We are pleased to see that the Zadroga Act is being expanded to provide more coverage to WTC first responders,” adding that, “We have been fighting for our 9/11 heroes since the beginning, and will never forget the ultimate sacrifices they have made.”
Many individuals who helped in the rescue and recovery efforts following the 9/11 terrorist attacks developed serious illnesses because of exposure to toxic dust in the air, according to a September 3, 2011 report by The Lancet. The Zadroga Act came into law in December 2010 and provides compensation to first responders who suffered illnesses or injury due to the toxic dust, according to GPO.gov and was named after the late New York Police Department detective, James Zadroga, and reopened the 9/11 Victims Compensation fund for five years.
If you or a loved one believe you may be eligible for compensation under the Zadroga Act and would like assistance with your claim, please visit Parker Waichman LLP's Zadroga Act claims page at yourlawyer.com or call 1-800-LAW-INFO (1-800-529-4636).