The World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) provides cost-free medical monitoring and treatment for individuals who have suffered physical injuries arising out of or related to the September 11th attacks. However, only those injuries and conditions contained on the WTCHP’s list of “WTC-Related Physical Health Conditions” qualify for benefits under the program. That list can be amended by the WTC Program Administrator to include other health conditions if new research and evidence shows a relationship between 9/11 terrorist site exposures and those health conditions.
Recently, the WTCHP determined that insufficient evidence exists to show a connection between the 9/11 attacks and Parkinson’s disease, and therefore Parkinson’s will not be included on the list of eligible WTC-related conditions.
In February and March 2017, the WTCHP Administrator received two petitions to add Parkinson’s disease and Parkinsonism, including manganese-induced Parkinsonism, to the List of WTC-Related Health Conditions. On July 13, 2017, the Administrator denied both petitions as she “determined that the available evidence does not have the potential to provide a basis for a decision on whether to add Parkinson’s disease and/or Parkinsonism, including manganese-induced Parkinsonism, to the List.”
The medical evidence required to get a condition added to the list is substantial. According to the WTCHP, the process may involve multiple reviews and assessments before a condition is approved:
“A health condition may be added to the List if peer-reviewed, published, epidemiologic studies provide support that the health condition is substantially likely to be causally associated with 9/11 exposures. If the evaluation of evidence provided in peer-reviewed, published, epidemiologic studies of the health condition in 9/11 populations demonstrates a high, but not substantial likelihood of a causal association between the 9/11 exposures and the health condition, then the Administrator may consider additional highly relevant scientific evidence regarding exposures to 9/11 agents from sources using non-9/11-exposed populations. If that additional assessment establishes that the health condition is substantially likely to be causally associated with 9/11 exposures among 9/11-exposed populations, the health condition may be added to the List.”
While new illnesses and cancers have been and likely will continue to be added to the list, it does not happen with great frequency.
If you have recently been diagnosed with an illness that you believe is related to 9/11 and you haven’t already enrolled in the World Trade Center Health Program, you should do so immediately. Enrolling in the WTCHP is the first step towards receiving treatment. You should also reach out to an experienced WTC lawyer who can assist you with participating in the program, if eligible, as well as help you apply for compensation from the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund.
Since the passage of the original Zadroga Act in 2010, the 9/11 and World Trade Center compensation attorneys at Turley Hansen & Partners have recovered over $75 million in 9/11 victim compensation for over 1200 clients. We are the only law firm in the country that focuses exclusively on representing victims, first responders, and recovery workers for their 9/11 related cancers, illnesses and injuries. Please call us at 1-855-WTC-INFO (982-4636) or fill out our contact form to schedule a free claim review today.
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