New legal advice service

The legal consultation service at the University Children’s Hospital Basel (UKBB) initiated by Childhood Cancer Switzerland is aimed at parents whose child has cancer or is an under-age survivor. The service provides legal aid on central social security and job-related issues.

Being diagnosed as having cancer turns the lives of those affected upside down from one day to the next and confronts them with major challenges. Even after successful treatment, the situation of a whole family can change permanently. If the late effects mean it is no longer possible for a cancer patient to return to his/her former life or perhaps only in a limited form, there are many questions that need to be asked with regard to educational and professional perspectives. Sometimes parents and survivors do not know where to turn and what help they are entitled to. 

Wading through social security issues can be something of a nightmare for those affected and their need for information and support is correspondingly great. The new service closes this gap in care by allowing affected parents to contact the legal experts with specific questions and concerns. This is especially important when it comes to children’s and adolescents’ future profession to ensure that everything is set up accordingly in good time.

The new legal consultation service is intended to further expand multidisciplinary follow-up care in Switzerland and to highlight possible courses of action that go beyond purely medical aspects. The service is a pilot project initiated by Childhood Cancer Switzerland together with Procap, our project partners are our member organisation “Basel Region Childhood Cancer Foundation, Regio Basiliensis” and the University Children’s Hospital Basel (UKBB).

The non-binding counselling takes place at the UKBB in cooperation with social services and legal experts from Procap and is free of charge for those affected. You can find out more about the service from the Childhood Cancer Switzerland Survivors’ Centre.