title: Compensation for occupational disease with multiple causes: the case of coal miners' respiratory diseases.
abstract: Many diseases associated with occupational exposures are clinically indistinguishable from diseases with non-occupational causes. Given this, how are fair decisions made about eligibility for compensation? This problem is discussed in relation to the federal black lung program. Conflicting definitions of terms--coal workers' pneumoconiosis as defined by the medical profession, pneumoconiosis as defined by the United States Congress, and the popular term, black lung--are important considerations in this discussion. Each is embedded in different logical interpretations of the causes of occupational disease and of disability. Alternative views are presented and critically discussed.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Weeks
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Wagner
mesh_terms: D001991:Bronchitis / Q000209:etiology; D003032:Coal Mining; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004391:Dust; D004646:Emphysema / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D011009:Pneumoconiosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D012907:Smoking; D014481:United States; D014942:Workers' Compensation / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*
chemical_list: D004391:Dust