German: Cancer as occupational disease

["Björn Cedervall" <bjorn_cedervall@hotmail.com>]

Radsafers,

A friend of mine sent the text below today - somewhat old now - maybe 
it has already been posted here (?). Wonder if anyone of you has any 
further information or comments regarding the case. Especially the 
wording "independent of degree" (guess that means "dose"). Can court 
people replace scientists, health physics professionals etc (I am not 
sure that it would be cheaper)?

bjorn_cedervall@hotmail.com
---------------------------------------------------------
GERMANY: CANCER AS OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE
Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger, 27  Mar 1999, p.47:-

For the first time a German court decided that the death of a worker 
who had been employed in a nuclear power station and died from cancer 
was a consequence of an occupational disease.
The ruling of the Neuruppin administrative court for social security 
and related matters concerned a worker who had been employed in the 
Rheinsberg nuclear power plant in former East Germany. 

Although the radioactive contamination of the worker did not exceed 
the limits set by the radiation protection law of former East 
Germany, the court decided that it was the cause of the disease. The 
court concluded that nuclear radiation, independent of the degree, is 
suited to cause leukaemia. The ruling is said to be a sensation. It 
is to be of national importance. 


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