The doctor is being sued for “perjury before the Senate” after having minimized the impact of diesel while he was paid by Total.
This is a first under the Fifth Republic … and there is nothing to be happy about. The pulmonologist Michel Aubier will be tried before the Paris Criminal Court for “perjury before the Senate”. In 2015, he lied under oath before a parliamentary committee of inquiry into pollution, failing to declare his ties to the oil industry.
Before the Senate, the famous professor of pulmonology had thus minimized the health consequences of fine particles emitted by diesel engines, showing a white footing and promising any lack of link with the oil industry. However, he was paid 50,000 to 60,000 euros per year by Total since the end of the 1990s as a medical consultant. The Senate presidency reported his case to the courts in April 2016.
“Low number of cancers”
As revealed The world, the public health pole of the Paris prosecutor’s office has decided to prosecute Professor Michel Aubier for “false testimony under oath”. Targeted by a summons to appear before the Paris Criminal Court on June 14, he faces up to five years’ imprisonment and a fine of 75,000 euros.
At the time, the Senate was investigating the economic and financial cost of air pollution. Before the commission, Michel Aubier had notably declared that “the number of cancers in respiratory pathologies (…) linked to pollution is extremely low”.
48,000 deaths per year
A finding that goes against the grain of scientific studies, which assess the loss of life expectancy in France linked to air pollution at one year. Public Health France the judge thus responsible for 48,000 annual deaths. The World Health Organization classifies diesel among certain carcinogens.
According to The world, the pulmonologist defends himself against accusations of conflict of interest and assures, through the voice of his lawyer, that he was only an “occupational doctor” at Total. According to daily information, he nevertheless holds shares in the oil group, and regularly participates in the board of directors of his Foundation.
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