[Occupational pathologies: prevention (the realization of nonharmful productive technologies) and protection (standards and methodology) in the identification of work-related causes]. / Patologie professionali: prevenzione (attuazione di tecnologie produttive non nocive) e tutela (criteriologia e metodologia) nel riconoscimento delle 'cause di servizio').

Protection at work should be intended as the whole measures which tend to study and improve the relationship between the individual and the work environment. A satisfactory work is important fos psychic health: it gives gratifications and may induce sense of personal fulfillment. The application of preventive safety rules can only reduce or limit, but never annul, the occurrence of dangerous events even if all the work safety rules are strictly enforced and observed. Stress factors in working environment are listed in the text. For tumours it is often necessary to apply to more or less consolidate, though sometimes debatable, presumptive criteria in the identification of casual relation. The identification of the connection with work implies the necessity to consider causal relations between work factors and diseases. Nature, modality of work and work conditions in which the worker acts: risk connected to the above mentioned conditions and probability for detrimental events to occur. Influence of environmental characteristics on the risk of occurrence of tumours and the problem of the relations between tumour and subject are discussed. Direct invasiveness of neoplastic tissue is related to alterations of the immunologic control and functional remote alterations caused by the tumour itself. Tumour illness is a general phenomenon, conditioned by tissue specific and immunological modifications. Relation between cranial traumas and tumour needs all the elements collected during the study of the case reported to be evaluated. Exploitation of every single element must be evaluated with a supple mind. There is need for rules which more rigorously regulate and control the hazards in the work environment.

Information about morality and behaviour of victims.

According to the Italian Law of Procedure (1988) documents which inform about the morality of the guilty, the witness and the victim are not admitted; those about the victim are admitted only when the criminal event needs to be evaluated in relation to his/her behaviour and moral qualities. In our opinion, in this case, generic moral qualities do not have any real significance; only information about the victim's objective behaviour should be admitted: for instance, in the case of the crime of "corruption of a minor", a type of objective behaviour can be habitual prostitution. Moreover, the norm at issue contrasts with the general principle in the Italian law that the rights concerning the personality of an individual, particularly of a minor, are to be protected, and with the fundamental norm in the law of Procedure according to which criminological examinations are not allowed during the trial. It is useful, however, to acquire elements in order to evaluate the credibility of the witness.

Deontological aspects in recombinant DNA researches.

Legal problems exist in regard to patent rights for new biotechnologies. Ethical problems arise in connection with the application of the technique to patients and with the possibility to cure embryos. The potentialities of preventive medicine have affected even hiring criteria, in that individuals who present enzymic deficiencies can be considered at risk when working in contact with certain substances. For example, firms could decide not to advance certain individuals to positions of responsibility on the grounds that they present the gene of familial hypercholesterolemia. It can be anticipated that the diagnostic potentialities of the recombinant DNA technique will be applied to the evaluation of risk for the stipulation of life insurance, and that further developments, permitting to determine the genetic predisposition for most diseases, would altogether nullify the basic principles of health- and life-insurance policies. An international committee will have to discuss these issues and to formulate deontological rules to regulate both the sphere of occupation and that of insurance.