title: Post hoc, ergo propter hoc.
abstract: Three cases are described in which patients sought damages for retinal detachments that followed minor trauma. In fact, the traumatic incidents were not responsible for the detachments. Criteria for diagnosing traumatic retinal detachments are summarized, and ophthalmologists and attorneys are cautioned to be wary of post hoc reasoning.
authors.affiliation: Wright State University School of Medicine, Dayton, OH, USA.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Bullock
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D006801:Humans; D016365:Liability, Legal; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D012160:Retina / Q000293:injuries*; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D012591:Scleral Buckling; D014821:Vitrectomy