Recognition for a victim, before waiting for others? Marcel Geslin, a former arboreal employee who died last June at age 74, in any case obtained Thursday the recognition by the justice of the professional origin of his Parkinson's disease, was learned from the court of security affairs social system (Tass) of Maine-et-Loire.
The Tass homologates the opinion of the Regional Committee for recognition of occupational diseases in Brittany
In a decision of April 15, received by mail on Thursday by the brother of the victim, the Tass overturned the decision of the board of amicable appeal of the Agricultural Social Mutual (MSA) of Maine-et-Loire, which had rejected in October 2017 Marcel Geslin's request for recognition of the occupational origin of Parkinson's disease. The court, however, "approved the opinion of the Regional Committee Recognition of Occupational Diseases of Brittany on December 3, 2018, favorable to this recognition."
In its judgment consulted, the Tass concludes "that the illness of Mr. Geslin must be taken care of under the legislation on occupational risks" and enjoins the MSA of Maine-et-Loire "to operate accordingly the financial adjustments ".
"It's more than a victory for honor"
"It's more than a victory for honor," said Michel Geslin, brother and guardian of Marcel, who led the fight to obtain this recognition but expects nothing financially, saying "prefer to fight for the compensation of people still alive. "With the media coverage of my brother's story, we have made things happen, and other pesticide victims have come forward to make their voices heard and not suffer the law of silence."
Alzheimer's disease requalified in Parkinson's
Employed for 37 years in the same arboreal company in Loiré, near Angers, where he spent his whole life, Marcel Geslin was an orchard care worker, pruning, thinning, picking ... " He did not handle the pesticides himself, but like all employees at the time, he worked in the ranks during and after the treatments, "reports Michel Geslin.
Appeared in 2008 after his retirement, his disorders were diagnosed "Alzheimer type" before being requalified in "Parkinson's disease" a few years later, leading to the opening of an application for recognition of occupational disease caused by pesticides.
"Being recognized as an occupational disease is a must for all those who have used or been exposed to pesticides without being informed of the dangers, trained and protected," responded in a statement to the Pesticide Victim Support Collaborative. West, stating that "Parkinson's is on the board of occupational diseases of the agricultural regime, as a disease due to pesticides."