Brigham and Women's Hospital

Brigham and Women's Hospital (often called "the Brigham" or BWH) is a major teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts. It is internationally recognized as one of the leading centers for the diagnosis and surgical treatment of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases, and it houses the International Mesothelioma Program (IMP).

Origin

The hospital was formed in 1980 through the merger of three older Boston hospitals, the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital (founded 1913), the Robert Breck Brigham Hospital, and the Boston Hospital for Women. Its prominence in mesothelioma care grew significantly after thoracic surgeon Dr. David Sugarbaker established the International Mesothelioma Program there in 2002, pioneering aggressive multimodal treatment approaches.

Significance in Asbestos Context

For patients with mesothelioma, the Brigham is one of a small number of high-volume specialty centers in the United States that offer access to complex surgeries (such as extrapleural pneumonectomy and pleurectomy/decortication), clinical trials, and multidisciplinary teams experienced in this rare cancer. Pathology reports, surgical records, and treatment notes from BWH frequently appear as evidence in asbestos claims because the diagnoses are made by recognized mesothelioma experts whose opinions carry weight in litigation. Patients may also encounter BWH researchers as expert witnesses or as authors of the scientific literature cited in their case. Seeking a second opinion or treatment at a specialty center like the Brigham can affect both clinical outcomes and the strength of the medical record supporting a legal claim.

Example Sentence

After her local oncologist confirmed pleural mesothelioma, she traveled to Brigham and Women's Hospital for a second opinion and to be evaluated for surgery through the International Mesothelioma Program.

Related Terms

International Mesothelioma Program, Extrapleural Pneumonectomy, Pleurectomy/Decortication, Mesothelioma, Tertiary Care Center, Multimodal Therapy

Notes

• If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, consider requesting a referral or self-referral to a specialty center such as BWH, MD Anderson, Memorial Sloan Kettering, or the University of Pennsylvania for evaluation. Outcomes are often better at high-volume centers.
• Request complete copies of all pathology reports, operative notes, imaging, and immunohistochemistry results from BWH; these documents are important both for ongoing care and for any legal claim.
• Ask whether you are eligible for clinical trials through the International Mesothelioma Program, including immunotherapy and novel surgical protocols.
• Keep records of travel, lodging, and out-of-pocket costs associated with treatment at a distant specialty center, as these may be recoverable as damages in an asbestos claim.
• Inform your legal team if your diagnosis or treatment was rendered at BWH, as opinions from its pathologists and surgeons are frequently relied upon in mesothelioma litigation.