Asbestos Textile Institute Minutes Calling an Autopsy Study Ill-Advised (1955)

Two pages of the Asbestos Textile Institute's general meeting minutes of June 9, 1955, in Philadelphia, with the Air Hygiene Committee's two-page "Proposal for Asbestosis Research," signed by its chairman, H. M. Jackson. The proposal asked members to join voluntarily in a heart and lung study of workers by Dr. P. A. Theodos in Philadelphia and an autopsy study by Dr. G. W. H. Schepers of the Saranac Laboratory. At the meeting, members agreed the first project was desirable but hard to staff, and called the second "ill-advised at this time due to its implication that a relationship existed between asbestosis and carcinogenic development, a condition which, to date, has not been established although it has been given rather wide-spread publicity in the press."

What it shows

The proposal said that because the usual case studied "would be a current or potential workmen's compensation occupational disease claim," the hospital study "would assist in determining the validity of the claim and the extent of the disability and therefore, the liability," and that the case reports would give "a basis for equitable settlement of Workmen's Compensation claims." Reports were to go to the company physician, and to the family doctor only "if desired." The minutes show the members setting aside a study of asbestos and cancer because of what it might imply. The proposal followed the committee's meeting with company doctors in October 1954 (Motley document 337).

In Johns-Manville's index

Johns-Manville's legal department indexed the Motley 1,000 in 1984. Its index describes this document as follows:

ATI Meeting Minutes, 6/9/55 - General Meeting. The proposal for research recently submitted to the Institute by the Air Hygiene Committee covering the two projects: (1) a cardio pulmonary study and (2) an autopsy study is discussed. It is generally agreed that the first project is desirable and would undoubtedly provide some information of significance, however the inability of member companies to obtain candidates for participation in this project, which would require hospitalization and observation, would seem to provide great difficulties in effectively carrying out such a program at this time. The second program listed is considered "ill advised at this time due to its implication that a relationship existed between asbestosis and carcinogenic development, a condition which, to date, has not been established although it has been given rather widespread publicity in the press." Attached is a document entitled "Asbestos Textile Institute - Air Hygiene Committee Proposal for Asbestosis Research," dated 6/55 (handwritten), prepared by H.M. Jackson. The document states that it is a recommendation of the Air Hygiene Committee that the individual members of the ATI participate voluntarily in further research on asbestosis through (1) cardio pulmonary and (2) autopsy studies. The individual workups completed during the cardiopulmonary study are to be distributed both to the company's physician and to the individual's private physician, if the worker desires. It is noted that the study would facilitate evaluation of the validity of pending or potential workers' compensation claims as well as the extent of individual disability and the liability of the employer. In addition, it is agreed that further autopsy studies should be conducted by Dr. Schepers at Saranac Laboratory. After a series of case studies, Dr. Schepers is to summarize and report to the ATI his findings and observations. Autopsy specimens would be obtained and forwarded by the plant physician.

Related documents

• Asbestos Textile Institute Air Hygiene Committee Meeting with Company Doctors and Dr. Schepers (1954)
• Asbestos Textile Institute General Meeting Minutes Rejecting an Autopsy Study, with the Asbestosis Research Proposal (1955)

About this copy

This is document 338 of the Motley 1,000, from the set the Manville Personal Injury Settlement Trust's records facility certified as true copies, pages CRMC-Motley1000-Subj-001698 to CRMC-Motley1000-Subj-001701.