Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Another astounding development from a European court


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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