2024-01-25 09:21:16
Home > Interviews > “We accept the idea that in order to produce, we need a number of sick people and deaths from work”, Anne Marchand written on January 25, 2024 at 10:21 a.m. “Doctors are poorly trained in this very specific right, which away from their profession which is care.” Article published in newspaper nº 120
Resulting from her thesis, carried out by following and helping cancer patients from Seine-Saint-Denis to have the professional origin of their cancer recognized, Anne Marchand’s work* highlights this silent epidemic. From recognition as an occupational disease to the urgency of reviewing our pathogenic modes of production, the sociologist draws attention to the value of lives at work.
How did the subject of your book emerge?
I have been interested in occupational health issues for a long time. Perhaps because I come from a fairly concerned region which is Lorraine. From adolescence, I saw a lot of demonstrations, not for health at work but against the elimination of jobs and the end of the steel industry. Quite quickly, demonstrations for the recognition of asbestos-related diseases followed. When I was able to resume my studies, I wanted to understand why this question of the obstacle course and the non-recognition of occupational illnesses recurred repeatedly. The investigation that I detail in the book was carried out within Giscop93, an action research system based in Seine-Saint-Denis. Giscop works in partnership with hospital services which notify it of all their patients newly diagnosed with cancer in certain locations. In this context, I was able to support nearly 200 employees or retirees suffering from lung cancer and their loved ones in their efforts and interact regularly with them.
What did these exchanges teach you?
For most of the people I followed, the link between their work and their cancer was very difficult to contemplate. Workplace cancer was, for them, unthinkable. Particularly because the disease occurs decades after carcinogenic exposures, which requires taking a leap into the history of one’s work. And then, they were unaware of having been exposed to carcinogens. On the contrary, they were convinced that they had been protected by various measures: personal protective equipment, reinforced medical surveillance or the fact of not exceeding exposure limit values. They were ultimately unaware that these devices were the result of social compromises rather than a scientific reality. Protective equipment is not completely reliable. Medical supervision does not in any way prevent you from falling ill. It may just make it possible to detect an illness early. Regarding exposure limit values, for example, there is no threshold value below which there is no risk of triggering cancer. In other words, this means that we socially accept the risk that a certain percentage of people will develop the disease ; we accept the idea that to produce, we need a certain number of sick people and deaths from work.
How are these people fighting to have their cancer recognized as an occupational disease?
Once patients have been informed by Giscop93 that they have been exposed to carcinogens, their priority is not always to engage in a long recognition process. Patients fight against their cancer, against exhaustion and try to maintain resources…
Why is this article reserved for subscribers?
For almost 30 years now, Alternative Santé has been promoting the benefits of alternative medicine or complementary approaches. While they are attacked from all sides with the greatest virulence, our mission is more essential than ever to defend another vision of health.
This is why we need you to support us in our information activities. Indeed, if we wish to maintain our editorial independence, only your financial support can allow us to continue our mission:
that of denouncing scandals and worrying abuses in the world of health, of highlighting undesirable effects that of making preventive solutions and effective natural remedies known to as many people as possible that of defending the rights of patients and health users and doctors to freely choose the best remedies.
As you certainly know, we do not place any advertising in our newspaper and remain free from any pressure. We want to keep all our independence, but this freedom comes at a cost.
The best way to help us and support an independent press is to subscribe to our newspaper!
I subscribe
Under no circumstances can the information and advice offered on the Alternative Santé site replace a consultation or diagnosis made by a doctor or health professional, the only ones able to adequately assess your state of health.
1708140664
#accept #idea #produce #number #sick #people #deaths #work #Anne #Marchand