Posted on June 8, 2015
ADAO would like to honor Prof. Richard Elliott, a fallen Mesothelioma Warrior, and send our condolences to his wife, Angela.
Prof. Elliott was a valiant Mesothelioma Warrior who sought to further innovate the methods of cancer treatment and research for patients within the United Kingdom. Holding the Bill Jarrett Chair of Infectious Diseases at the University of Glasgow, Prof. Elliott knew the importance of innovative approaches to science, leading to his championing of the Medical Innovation Bill or, the Saatchi Bill. This bill would allow for doctors, clinicians, and surgeons to have the freedom to try innovative procedures when dealing with their patients’ various cancers, all with the permission of the patients. With his full support, the bill has made its way to the floor of Parliament, awaiting a decision.
Prof. Elliott is, and was, an inspirational man with the foresight to know that cancer treatments cannot stagnate if progress is to be made. Unfortunately though, he had to see the drastic effects of cancer first-hand in his own world. Mavis Nye, mesothelioma patient, remembers that “Richard continues the fight with mesothelioma as he asked the medical team to use his diseased tissue to help mesothelioma research.” And though his life may have ended far too soon, his legacy and work lives on, both in the support he gave and battle he fought. Mesothelioma robs many undeserving people of their lives, yet with Mesothelioma warriors like Dr. Richard Elliott fighting the good fight, there continues to be hope for the eradication of asbestos and the prevention of Mesothelioma as a whole.
ADAO joins the global community as we honor Dr. Elliott and his continuing legacy to improve the treatment for cancer patients.