The world is filled with incompetence and negligence; one would have to be a saint, not
occasionally to daydream, that the culprits might get what-for. A fine; a demotion; perhaps a pie in the face. But not, in general, a prison term. Hence we were
taken aback at the recent action by an Italian court, sentencing several
scientists for failing to predict an earthquake. Mais alors -- vous
exagérez !
And now, this just in from France:
French political figure Martine Aubry is being charged with
manslaughter for deaths caused by asbestos. The basis for singling her out is that she held a
labor post in the 1980s; yet at that time, asbestos was still legal -- France didn’t
get around to banning it until 1997. So perhaps you might blame the legislature -- but
Aubry?
Strangely, the readers’ comments are not similarly
shocked. They are either
anti-Aubry, or joking, or just off-topic. I may be missing something.
[Update 7 Nov] More details here:
http://www.lefigaro.fr/actualite-france/2012/11/07/01016-20121107ARTFIG00001-amiante-martine-aubry-mise-en-examen.php?m_i=eTheKOO%2BwF8Awh_JlL_INSNQiJpAJPPqZ7MclzuDSVQDOE2e_
Fun factoid: Both the accusing magistrate and the defendent in this case are women.
[Update 13 November 2012]
Pour la première fois en France,
une psychiatre répond d'«homicide involontaire» pour n'avoir pas diagnostiqué
la maladie dont souffrait l'un de ses patients, lequel, dans une crise
délirante, a assassiné le compagnon de sa grand-mère.
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