Queen's University: new study shows extent of 'finance discrimination' faced by cancer survivors
Professor Mark Lawler now wants a change in the law
A major new study by Belfast-based researches today highlighted the shock plight of cancer survivors when they attempt to access financial services.
The Queen's University report found that many of the current 20 million cancer survivors across Europe are being discriminated against when it comes to mortgages, loans and health and travel insurance.
The study, which has been published in the Lancet, shows the extent of the issue - and raises concerns that despite being free of the illness, survivors feel they are being treated differently from others.
Research lead, Professor Mark Lawler, branded the situation "disgraceful" and he wants new laws implemented so that cancer survivors do not have to declare their previously diagnosed illness when applying for financial services.
Currently, in many European countries, including Ireland and the UK, cancer survivors must declare their previous cancer diagnosis to financial institutions, to successfully access financial products, despite being cured of their cancer.
The research shows that on average, up to 25% of those living beyond their cancer in Europe are unable to access appropriate financial services including life assurance, mortgages and travel insurance.
Professor Lawler said: "Our evidence of financial toxicity for cancer survivors is undeniable. Our data suggests that at a conservative estimate over a half a million cancer survivors in the UK may be experiencing some form of financial discrimination.
"And it may be even more. It is disgraceful that significant numbers of cancer survivors continue to be discriminated against financially.
“While the current cost of living crisis is hard for everyone, it is so much worse for cancer survivors. We need to bring in legislation to protect our patients who are living beyond their cancer as a matter of urgency.”
In January 2016, France became the first country in the world to introduce the “Right To Be Forgotten”, which specifies that long-term cancer survivors do not have to share medical information with a financial institution about their cancer diagnosis after a delay of five years without recurrence. Seven other European countries have taken similar legal measures to counter financial discrimination against cancer survivors.
Currently, a self-regulatory code of conduct has been introduced by the financial/insurance industries in a number of other European countries, including Ireland, but is not legally binding.
Richard Spratt, Chief Executive of Cancer Focus Northern Ireland, commented: “A cancer diagnosis is one of the most devastating moments anyone can experience, and the cancer journey can be relentless, with extreme physical and mental consequences for months to years on-end. I applaud the work of Professor Lawler and his team. Cancer patients should not be punished for one of the worst things that has ever happened to them, especially when the majority of cancer diagnoses are beyond anyone’s control.
“It is cruel to think that someone’s diagnosis will stay with them, not only in terms of any mental or physical trauma from the diagnosis and treatment, but also because of financial institutions’ ability to hold someone’s cancer history over their head, seemingly for the rest of their lives.
“Implementing the ‘Right To Be Forgotten’ into legislation as this article recommends offers a solution to this unjust and unsympathetic practice: it would prohibit financial institutions from asking about or factoring in applicants’ medical history from five years after an applicant had been declared ‘cancer-free.’”