Merlin Olsen, age 69, passed away this week after a long battle with the deadly asbestos-related disease, mesothelioma. Olsen was a Hall of Fame player for the Rams in the mid-1960′s. He was renowned as a defensive lineman and was a member of the famed “Fearsome Foursome”.
The New York Times did a thorough article on Olsen’s life and death, Merlin Olsen, Football Star, Commentator and Actor, Dies at 69. However, one aspect was strikingly absent. There was no focus whatsoever on the cause of his cancer: asbestos.
Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos. This fiber is known to be dangerous, yet not many people realize that it is still very prevalent in our day to day lives. Asbestos remains in our public schools, museums, and many government buildings.
Olsen’s death comes only a few weeks prior to the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization’s (ADAO) 6th Annual Asbestos Awareness Conference which is to be held in Chicago, IL. The goals of the ADAO are as follows:
- Serve as the united voice for all asbestos victims
- Unite asbestos victims educate the public and medical community about asbestos related diseases
- Support research that leads to early detection, prevention and a cure
- Ensure equitable compensation for victims and their families
- Ban the use of asbestos
There are very few resources for those affected by mesothelioma, and a very small community of support. Bringing attention to the fact that this terminal cancer can affect many types of people – football players, rock stars, journalists, doctors, wives, and daughters – serves to increase public awareness and, thus, increase the resources and aid available to victims of mesothelioma.
It is a shame that this prominent publication failed to call attention to the fact that asbestos exposure led to Olsen’s untimely death, especially as asbestos-related illnesses are among our nation’s top work-related killers.
For more information on ADAO and the 6th Annual Asbestos Awareness Conference, please visit the ADAO website, Voice of the Victims.
