Parkinson’s Disease Presumed Job-Related in Indiana

May 8, 2009 – Indiana became the first state to presume Parkinson’s disease to be job-related for fire fighters, EMS personnel and law enforcement officers when Governor Mitch Daniels signed Senate Bill 376 into law May 1. The law requires Parkinson's disease to be treated as a line-of-duty disability under an emergency responder's pension and disability plan.

Throughout the legislative process, the bill was championed by Professional Fire Fighters Union of Indiana (PFFUI) President Tom Hanify, retired Indianapolis, IN Local 416 fire fighter Gary Coons, State Representative Mary Ann Sullivan (D–Indianapolis) and State Senator James Merritt (R-Indianapolis).

“The IAFF is very proud of the hard work by Coons and the Professional Fire Fighters Union of Indiana and their tireless efforts to obtain the benefits for fire fighters suffering from this disease,” says IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger.

PFFUI President Hanify says that this new law has the potential to help all fire fighters, not just those in Indiana. “We hope this law will set a precedent and similar laws can be passed in other states,” he says. “Additionally, this law will call further attention to the dangers of chemical exposure on the job.”

SB 376 was widely approved in the Senate by a vote of 49-0 and in the House by a vote of 97–2. Retired Local 416 fire fighter Coons’s story is thought to have been the deciding factor for many legislators.

He was diagnosed in 2005 with Parkinson’s at the young age of 33. Coons’ case is unique because the chances of having early onset Parkinson’s disease are less than one in 100,000. Toxic exposures, such as those fire fighters are subjected to on the job, are known to be a probable contributing factor to the diseases’ onset.

In 2005, Coons was the lead investigator of a large paint warehouse fire. The contents of the fire building included several paint trucks (vehicles), painting materials and paint chemicals, like Toluene, carbon monoxide, debris from burning metal, and several other toxins and neurotoxins. It is widely-believed that this exposure to multiple toxins was a contributing factor to Coons’ Parkinson’s.

“I am very humbled and honored that Governor Daniels, Senator Merritt and Representative Sullivan took my message and efforts to pass and enact legislation in the Indiana General Assembly,” says Coons. “I realize that my Parkinson's disease is not a death sentence, but a life sentence and I must continue to get the message out to fire fighters.”

As a vehicle for his message, Coons has developed the Fire Fighters with Parkinson’s web site. “I tell other fire fighters that no matter how ‘safe’ they feel or how cumbersome the protective gear may feel, they should persevere and keep on the gear,” he states.