Dr. Kenneth W. Smith to George K. Foster on Autopsies and Compensation (1948)

A one-page letter of December 1948 from Dr. Kenneth W. Smith of Canadian Johns-Manville to George K. Foster. The copy is too faint to read, so this account follows Johns-Manville's own description. Smith wrote that more autopsies of men who had worked in the asbestos industry could add to what was known about asbestosis, but he advised against more for the time being because of experience at Thetford Mines, where an autopsy showing dust exposure and lung fibrosis brought the family compensation whatever the cause of death. He would recommend an autopsy only where it would help settle fair compensation and also add to scientific knowledge.

In Johns-Manville's chronology

Johns-Manville's own chronology of what the company knew describes this document as follows:

Dr. Kenneth Smith notifies George E. Foster, 12/6/48, that "[O]ur present lack of knowledge of many aspects of asbestosis could be expanded if more autopsies could be performed of men employed in our industry [sic]." However, due to the experience with autopsies at Thetford Mines, he would not advise more autopsies at this particular time. He explains that when a Thetford worker dies after having been employed in the asbestos industry for several years, his family doctor advises the family to seek an autopsy for the Compensation Board. If dust exposure can be shown and lung fibrosis, the family will automatically be awarded compensation, no matter what the cause of death. However, if such a case should come up for consideration while the worker is still alive, the worker might not be awarded compensation unless disability could be established. Dr. Smith is concerned about possible disturbances caused by this situation. Therefore, at this time, Dr. Smith will recommend autopsies only if an autopsy will help to establish just and fair compensation for an employee and at the same time further scientific knowledge.