Editing Emergency Action Checklist (section)

== What Must Happen Within 24 Hours of Diagnosis? ==

The first 24 hours establish the foundation for all subsequent legal and financial recovery. Delays during this critical window create compounding problems throughout the claims process.

=== Medical Documentation Requirements ===

Obtaining complete medical documentation immediately ensures preservation of evidence that becomes increasingly difficult to secure over time. The [https://dandell.com/mesothelioma-diagnosis/ diagnosis documentation process] requires specific attention to pathology reports, imaging studies, and symptom histories.

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! colspan="2" style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:12px; text-align:center;" | 📋 Medical Documentation Checklist
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'''Essential Documents:'''
* ☐ Official pathology report stating "mesothelioma" with cell type (epithelioid, sarcomatoid, or biphasic)
* ☐ Complete imaging studies (CT, PET, MRI) on CD/DVD
* ☐ Blood work and pulmonary function test results
* ☐ Surgical reports from any biopsy procedures
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'''Self-Documentation:'''
* ☐ Written symptom timeline (when symptoms first appeared)
* ☐ Progression notes over time
* ☐ Impact on daily activities and work
* ☐ Date-stamped photographs of visible symptoms
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| style="padding:20px 25px 15px; font-style:italic; font-size:1.05em; line-height:1.6;" | "Pathology reports containing the wrong terminology or missing cell type identification can delay trust fund claims by months. Getting the documentation right from day one prevents problems throughout the entire compensation process."
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| style="padding:5px 25px 20px; text-align:right;" | '''— [https://dandell.com/michelle-whitman/ Michelle Whitman],''' Attorney, Danziger & De Llano
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=== Immediate Notifications ===

Certain notifications protect both legal rights and financial interests while establishing the timeline courts require for statute of limitations calculations.

{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; margin:1em 0; border-collapse:collapse;"
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! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:12px; text-align:left;" | Who to Notify
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:12px; text-align:left;" | What to Request/Document
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:12px; text-align:left;" | Why It Matters
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| style="padding:12px; font-weight:bold; background:#e8f4f8;" | Employer HR Department
| style="padding:12px; background:#e8f4f8;" | Insurance continuation options, disability benefits, complete personnel file
| style="padding:12px; background:#e8f4f8;" | Preserves coverage and employment records
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| style="padding:12px; font-weight:bold;" | Health Insurance Company
| style="padding:12px;" | Coverage verification for specialists and [https://mesothelioma.net/mesothelioma-treatment-centers/ treatment centers], pre-authorization requirements
| style="padding:12px;" | Ensures treatment coverage
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| style="padding:12px; font-weight:bold; background:#e8f4f8;" | Immediate Family Members
| style="padding:12px; background:#e8f4f8;" | Inform spouse of [https://dandell.com/asbestos-exposure/ secondary exposure claim] potential, designate medical power of attorney
| style="padding:12px; background:#e8f4f8;" | Protects family legal rights
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