[Social impact of screening and of medical surveillance on people exposed to asbestos]. / L'impact social du dépistage et de la surveillance médicale chez les personnes exposées à l'amiante.

A medical screening program has collective and individual impact. The collective benefit of medical screening for people exposed to asbestos would be financial (better compensation of occupational diseases related to asbestos). The cost of compensation would be attributed to the special assurance fund for occupational diseases. A medical screening of asbestos diseases would set an example for other Public health problems. It would be important for admission of social damage for the French nation. For individuals, social benefits would be better (compensation during work stop and annuities). But screening can have a negative psychological impact for asymptomatic persons. Persons exposed to asbestos and patients with asbestos diseases are able to quit their job for anticipated retirement. Is it a benefit for patients with mesothelioma or lung cancer? It is a very important benefit for asbestosis. The risk is to change the objective of medical screening into a social screening. The financial and medical benefits of screening for hyaline plaques is very poor. Awarding social damage is important for individuals.