Genoa

A professor of heart surgery has been awarded more than E1.3 million (Pounds 800,000) in damages by an appeal court in Genoa against the Tuscan hospital of Massa for unfair dismissal in 1976. Gaetano Azzolina, 68, claimed that he had been sacked for criticising hospital inefficiency and for exposing malpractices. It is Italy's first civil case decision for damages on the basis of violation of professional dignity.