title: [Surgical complications and the legal expert medical evidence of attributability and causality].
abstract: The cause-effect relationship is a cornerstone of legal decisions. In the medical sphere, the expert charged with determining the attributability of adverse effects must take into account both the likely pathophysiological mechanism and the chronology, based on common sense. When proven by the expert, attributability--a medical concept--allows the judge to determine the legal implications. The expert report should describe the incriminated actions and their observed adverse effects, distinguish what is clearly false from what is probably true, state only what is certain, and clearly identify any doubts.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vayre
mesh_terms: D005104:Expert Testimony; D006801:Humans; D016365:Liability, Legal; D008318:Malpractice; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*