The Breast Cancer Advocacy Initiative has been developed to provide legal advocacy training to lawyers, provide resources for lawyers and consumers dealing with breast cancer, and educating women, attorneys and policymakers on the rage of legal issues impacting women’s health..

Women with breast cancer are sometimes unaware of their legal options to appeal decisions made by their insurance carriers. Also, many women without resources rarely challenge or appeal health insurance decisions which deny coverage for health care treatments and services. Unfortunately, for those who are aware of their legal options, there are insufficient numbers of pro bono attorneys willing or capable of representing women who have been denied health care coverage.

Because of the dearth of trained legal professionals in this area of practice, the Breast Cancer Advocacy Training program provides training for attorneys interested in providing legal services to women in need. Contact Sena Leach if you are interested in learning more.

The Commission on Women conducted a national public education initiative to inform women about their rights to challenge and appeal health insurance decisions (see: 10 Steps to Protecting Your Legal Rights).

Resources available include:

• 10 Steps to Protecting Your Legal Rights
• Breast Cancer Legal Advocacy Guide (CLE Training Materials)
• TYLA Cancer Guide

In 1993, the ABA Commission on Women successfully initiated its first program on breast cancer, informing ABA members about issues affecting women with breast cancer. Over 100 attorneys from around the country participated in this program, which featured a wide variety of speakers such as Gloria Steinem, U.S. Representative Nita Lowey and several notable public health experts.

Because of its stature within the ABA, the Commission was ideally positioned to lead and implement a new public education initiative designed to protect the legal rights of breast cancer patients. During the ABA 2000 Annual Meeting in New York, the Breast Cancer Legal Advocacy Initiative kicked off with a day-long series of events. The program featured a host of distinguished experts on breast cancer treatments, public policies and related legal issues. Three Continuing Legal Education (CLE) seminars were provided for attorneys wishing to serve as legal advocates for breast cancer patients.

The project has evolved into one that draws on the expertise of many lawyers in a variety of disciplines. The ABA Health Law Section assumed responsibility for the project on January 1, 2008. Led by an executive committee with members from both Health Law and the Commission and supported by a Breast Cancer Task Force of over forty members, the Section is committed to continuing the excellent work of the Commission on Women in the Profession.

• General Information
• ABA Breast Cancer Legal Advocacy Guide (PDF)
• If You Have Breast Cancer (PDF)
• Ten Steps to Protecting the Legal Rights of Breast Cancer Patients
• Breast Cancer Pro Bono Legal Referral Services and Other Resources
• Getting or Keeping Health Insurance After Diagnosis
• Payment for Breast Reconstruction Is Mandated by ERISA
• Dealing with Debt
• Legal Guide for Cancer Patients (Texas Young Lawyers Association 2006)
• Past CLE Programs

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