Atlanta Legal Aid tackles breast cancer patients’ legal battles

3/06/2014

Breast cancer patients and survivors in metro Atlanta who don’t have the means to fight legal battles involving medical benefits, insurance discrimination and other issues have somewhere to turn. The Cancer Legal Initiative of Atlanta Legal Aid provides free civil legal services to eligible low-income breast cancer patients and survivors in Cobb, Clayton, DeKalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett Counties.

“Those that have limited resources and systems of support need an advocate to deal with the legal aspects of the medical, economic and personal issues that arise when facing cancer,” said Lisa K. Liang of the Cancer Legal Initiative and Atlanta Legal Aid’s Health Law Unit.

In addition to providing services to low-income patients and survivors, the Cancer Legal Initiative was designed to educate the oncology and cancer advocacy communities about the legal vulnerabilities patients and survivors face. Challenges include the obvious insurance and benefits discrimination, but also employment claims, housing disputes, family law and end-of-life considerations.

For more information on Atlanta Legal Aid’s Cancer Legal Initiative, please call 404-614-3969. At this number, cancer patients, survivors, and their caregivers can leave a confidential message, and someone from the ALA staff will respond promptly. Atlanta Legal Aid has been providing free legal aid to low-income residents of metro Atlanta since 1924.

Outside of the five counties covered by Atlanta Legal Aid, patients and survivors should contact the Georgia Legal Services Program. Though GLSP does not have cancer-specific services, similar legal services and resources are available. Find more information at www.glsp.org.