Rejected due to cancer: The Rector prevented

She has been elected rector of a university and can not compete because she had cancer: The case of Renate Lieckfeldt reignited the debate over whether such a decision is ethical. By Friederike Ott

Renate Lieckfeldt. The elected Rector of the HTWK in Leipzig may not compete in their office

They had hung up banners, dedicated musicians and protested with a megaphone in front of the university. 24 hours were up to 50 students, the Rector of the University of Technology, Economy and Culture (HTWK) occupied in Leipzig. On Thursday morning at seven clock the protest was over. They wanted to draw attention to the fate of their newly elected Rector Renate Lieckfeldt. You should not take up their posts - because of cancer. Here, the illness is over.

Wanted Lieckfeldt was elected in January and quickly announced that she would bring forward the Institute internationally, top executives commit and invest money. Full of beans would be the Rhinelander, currently a professor in Gelsenkirchen, get to work. However, they were also known to have had cancer, she overcame in 2010. For the Saxon Ministry of Science was reason enough to deny her the position she eigentich on 1 Was supposed to start in May

The Ministry of Science keeps the relapse risk was too high and refers to the Civil Service Law. "Does not meet the requirements Lieckfeldt woman to take up the post of Rector," says a spokeswoman. "We comply with the law. We are, unfortunately, because hands are tied."

The student brings up the wall. "We think the decision is discriminatory," a spokesman of the Student Council of the action HTWK founded in conversation with stern.de. "Mrs. Lieckfeldt was democratically elected, it can not be that easy to get over is a ministry."

"The ministry's hands are not bound"
Tolmein Oliver, a lawyer specializing in medical law on anti-discrimination law at the Hamburg law firm "and human rights", believes this argument hold water for much. "The fact that the ministry's hands are tied is incorrect," he says. "If the state of Saxony wanted tenure Lieckfeldt woman, it would quite clearly the way to do it."

While playing in the examination of medical fitness for whatever the officials forecast an important role in whether someone is fit for duty or not. Yet, says the lawyer for the scientist is a relatively good chance in court with an appeal against the decision win. "Cancer patients usually get a disabled badge, which is at least valid for five years, even if the disease does not break out again," he explains. Lieckfeldt also has a disabled badge. At the moment the scientist was not ill, but disabled. The obstruction lies in the fact that the cancer may erupt again. "If someone not tenured because of his disability, the discrimination and prohibited by the Equal Treatment Act," said the lawyer. In addition, the Social Code obliges the state even severely disabled people to employ as officials.

Smokers and drinkers should also be excluded from the tenure?
However, beyond the existing law case raises the question whether it is ethically justifiable to deny someone a job that only exists because the risk of disease. Margot Kaessmann was about Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany, although three years she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Why should different rules apply for state employees, even though all private and public employers are required by more than 20 employees use to deal also with disabilities? And should also smokers, drinkers and motorcycle riders are excluded from tenure, because there is a risk that they do not remain fit for duty during the tenure time?

Anyway, the students believe the HTWK that are still other reasons behind the cancellation. You suspect that the university professor is uncomfortable to the Ministry. Lieckfeldt had already forced her election as Rector legally after the first election a year ago, only one candidate was nominated. When re-election, she sat down earlier this year against the other candidates.

That such waves would beat her case has not Lieckfeldt suspected. She had spoken with the media to make their case to the attention. But the headline, they wanted to complain to the office if necessary, then it was too confrontational. After all, was Minister of Schorlemer Sabine (Independent) The scientist invited to an interview in the first week of May, which adopted them. Therefore Lieckfeldt wrote on Wednesday evening in an email to the Ministry that they will not talk to the meeting with the Minister with the press. "There should be a gesture," she said yesterday. You would not heat up the atmosphere further, a lawsuit was a last resort. They would much prefer to agree peacefully.

fraud with cancer wonder drug

167 people suffering from terminal cancer. Her last hope: a Russian
"cancer wonder drug" for which even advertised a TV star. But the drug
is really just a cheap anti-inflammatory. It has helped only five
rogue traders who are alleged to have made millions. You are now on
trial in Kassel, they face long prison sentences. Malte Arnsperger,
Kassel

Helps prevent diarrhea: Galavit-sale in a Moscow pharmacy

Cancer, end stage. No doctor could help Walter tooth left, the
63-year-old had given up the fight against the deadly cancer already.
But then appear on the horizon a glimmer of hope. On television, sees
his wife Marlene in early 2001 a report on Galavit, the Russian "magic
bullet" against cancer. Immediately, she turns to Dr. Kurt R. Eike who
treats cancer patients in a clinic with Hessian Galavit. Good faith,
the couple pays tooth 16 800 DM (about 8600 €) for the last straw. But
the straw breaks down quickly. "Galavit has helped more than anything.
On the contrary. There my husband went to the Galavit treatment worse
and worse. A few months later, he then died," says his widow stern.de.
"It had promised Dr. R. to 100 percent, that my Walter will be healed.
I'm so angry at these criminals."

"He's going to be good"
The district court in Kassel, the little woman about five years after
the death of her husband meets the object of their anger. Dr. R., a
broad-shouldered, strong 65-year-old man with drooping eyelids, red
face and computer, is on trial along with four accomplices for fraud
and extortion. "He's gone but fat," says Marlene teeth with disgust
when she discovered the doctor in court. While Dr. R. welcomed by a
flurry of flashbulbs, takes place in the dock, Marlene adds teeth to
with bitterness in his voice: "He could leave it to go so well with
our money."

It was a sophisticated and yet misanthropic system, with which the
five defendants should have in the years 1999 to 2001, the purported
"miracle cures" advertised and sold for much media attention. The
actor Ivan Desny, known in the ARD-Crime "crime scene", they harnessed
their carts. In colorful leaves Desny came up with the proud, and Dr
R. announced that he had defeated his Galavit with prostate cancer.
"The tumor is gone. It's like a miracle," claimed Desny. Desny but had
never had cancer. The star of the TV star confessed shortly before his
death in 2002, he wanted his old pal Falko D., helping the indictment
of the masterminds of the fraud Galavit. "The only advertising for a
friend."

Million profit bagged
The advertisement had its effect. The promise of salvation have been
misled by supposedly 167 cancer patients. As Walter tooth they should
have paid around € 8600 for the treatment with 15 vials, as well as
several thousand euros for the several weeks of hospitalization. Falko
D. and his team should have paid for the 15 vials Galavit just € 320 -
a cheap import from Russia. Winning a total of 1.3 million euros, said
the 63-year-old D. Falko among his partners. These included two for
the responsible management of the business men, and the journalist
Theo K., who was responsible for the effective public dissemination of
medical sensation. Dr. R. has led to the treatments and the patients,
the efficacy of the product have guaranteed. He cashed for a princely
monthly salary of 10,000 € and drove a Bentley luxury car as a
service.

The desperate cancer patients, according to the prosecutor was fooled,
the drug had been tested successfully in the Russian space research,
stop the tumor growth, eliminate the cancer cells and thus prolong
survival. "The defendants have exploited the plight of the patients,"
said the State Attorney.

Lawyers plead not guilty
This confirms Marlene tooth. "We were so much honey smeared around his
mouth," she says in retrospect. But even in Russia Galavit is approved
only as anti-inflammatory and anti-diarrhea medication. German Cancer
experts warn that because of false hopes. "We discourage the use of
this preparation," according to the Cancer Society and the Drug
Commission of the German Medical Association. There was no evidence
for efficacy against cancer.

Fraud, the defendants want to know anything. Self-assured and
seemingly unaware of the seriousness of the accusations they pursue in
court as the data of the 167 patients will be read. Although no one
expresses himself fall on the first trial, the five, but her lawyers
have strong words. "I hope for an acquittal. My client was open to
patients, he has not Galavit touted as cancer cures," says Sabine Zeh,
attorney for Dr. R. "As a panacea, there are Galavit only in the media
and the indictment. So But it was never sold. "

A similar situation also the legal counsel of the principal defendants
Falko D. "It is the question of whether there is a debt. For there is
no study that proves the Galavit is ineffective," says Ullrich Goetjes
whose clients on a conviction of up to 15 years in prison threaten.
Moreover, the lawyer, there are cancer sufferers who had been quite
satisfied with the treatment. When asked how many happy Galavit
patients there because, Gotjes white is not an accurate answer. "There
are a few."

"I'll tell him"
Walter tooth can not be so mean. As with the other 167 victims, most
of whom have already died, Galavit has stirred up in him and his wife
only false hopes. "This afternoon I'm going to tell my husband what
happened today in court," says Marlene tooth. For the first time, the
brave woman swallow her tears in the eyes shoot. "I'll tell him at the
grave."

Lawsuit against U.S. manufacturers

Radiation victims demand millions

The former radar technician with cancer of the Bundeswehr have sued
the U.S. manufacturer of radar equipment for damages and compensation
in the millions. The Berlin attorney Reiner Geulen submitted in
collaboration with four U.S. firms in federal court in El Paso in the
U.S. state of Texas an appropriate class action.

Class action lawsuit against U.S. manufacturers

Geulen claims to represent more than 450 army soldiers and nearly 400
members of other NATO armies, who worked between 1958 and mid-80s on
radar equipment, and American manufacturers are suffering from cancer
or have died. The action is directed against the large American
electronics companies Raytheon Company, Lucent Technologies, General
Electric Corporation, Honeywell International Inc., ITT Gilfillan Inc.
and ITT Industries Inc.

The venue El Paso Geulen explained by the fact that there have
complained about the firms are based, and the radar technicians were
also trained there on the devices. The complaint referred to the
affected part for many years with the operation or maintenance of
radar equipment had been commissioned. They were exposed to a
permanent radioactive radiation. Against this radiation, there have
been no protection at that time, the staff also had not been informed
of the risks.

Damages in the millions

With a verdict expect the attorney in late 2003. The claims were not
quantified the amount. The lower limit for compensation under U.S.
law, however, lies in one to two million U.S. dollars per person.

Mitkläger is loud Geulen the federal government to support victim
radar. The union wants to sue a systematic medical examination of all
persons who were ever employed at the affected devices. The aim is
possibly still undetected cancers detected and the prognosis of those
affected are increased.

Cases and deaths

Total Geulen claims to represent 822 victims of non-shielded radars.
They were mostly suffering from leukemia or testicular cancer. 185 are
now dead, would be added up to three deaths per week. Except to
American units had been worked on other equally hazardous equipment,
including German, manufacturer and in the case of 126 former NVA
soldiers on Soviet products.

In March Geulen filed on behalf of six cancer-stricken former army
radar experts test cases against the Ministry of Defense before the
District Courts of Bonn and Frankfurt / Oder. Requires additional
pension payments and a unique smart money of 60,000 €. According to
the lawyer but currently these claims to rest. A 16-member Commission
is charged with scientists testing the relationship between the
activity of the radars and the cancer. Only after submission of the
result early 2003, the process would resume.

cancer caused by asbestos

Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos, or they have been exposed to asbestos dust and fiber in other ways. It has also been suggested that washing the clothes of a family member who worked with asbestos can put a person at risk for developing mesothelioma. Unlike lung cancer, there is no association between mesothelioma and smoking, but smoking greatly increases the risk of other asbestos-induced cancers. Those who have been exposed to asbestos have collected damages for asbestos-related disease, including mesothelioma. Compensation via asbestos funds or lawsuits is an important issue in law practices regarding mesothelioma. Some lawyers do indeed specialize in cases to reach settlements for cancer victims.