Françoise Meunier: MEP Clune also recalls how the need to integrate the right to be forgotten in Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan came about

Françoise Meunier shared on LinkedIn:

” ‘I believe firmly, if your doctor or your oncologist says that you’re cured of cancer, then that should be good enough for insurance companies.’

With this quote, Deirdre Clune captures the essence of our fight against financial discrimination against cancer survivors. It is crucial that financial assessments take into account the real health status of a person, and not make cancer survivors pay twice for the cancer they successfully overcome.

In this interview, MEP Clune also recalls how the need to integrate the right to be forgotten in Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan came about. She also speaks about the fact that Ireland recently adopted a code of conduct to protect cancer survivors from financial discrimination.

This interview was recorded during the High-Level Conference on Ending Financial Discrimination Against Cancer Survivors during which MEP Clune, alongside other MEPs, debated the way forward at the EU level to end the discrimination that they are confronted with years or even decades after battling cancer.

You will find all the information about the conference and my initiative here.”

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Source: Françoise Meunier/LinkedIn

Françoise Meunier dedicated her professional life to improving the survival and QoL of cancer patients. Prof. Meunier served as Director-General of the European organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (1991-2015), where she remained active until 2018 as Director of Special Projects, being the driving force behind cancer survivorship activities. Since 2014, she has been pursuing activities on the Right to be Forgotten for cancer survivors, advocating for the creation of a harmonised legal framework to tackle discrimination against cancer survivors. Prior to joining the EORTC, Françoise Meunier was Head of Infectious Diseases Department at Institute Jules Bordet. Prof. Meunier was awarded the Belgian Laureate Prix Femmes d’Europe 2004-2005, conferred the title of Baroness by His Majesty, King Albert II of Belgium in 2007, received the Pezcoller Foundation award in 2009, became a Fellow of the European Academy of Cancer Sciences in 2011, joined the Scientific Committee of the Innovative Medicine Initiative of the European Union in 2012, received the ECCO Life time achievement award in 2013, awarded a Ben de Pauw Medal for her dedication to Medical Mycology in 2013, appointed council member of the Federation of European Academies of Medicine in 2014, appointed Chair of Accreditation Council of Oncology in Europe and Member of Alliance for Biomedical Research in Europe in 2015, and has been a member of the Belgian Royal Academy of Medicine since 2006.