Epidemiology in the courtroom: an evidence-based paradigm for the determination of causation in compensation environments.
OBJECTIVE
Identify an evidence-based paradigm for the determination of causation of occupational injury and illness litigation.


METHODS
The Westlaw and LexisNexis databases were used to identify legal principles governing the admissibility of scientific evidence in legal proceedings. The Medline database was referenced to identify evidence-based methods for the determination of causation complying with legal precepts for the admissibility of scientific testimony.


RESULTS
Expert witness testimony must be relevant and reliable. Testimony must be sufficiently based on reliable facts and data. Testimony must be the product of reliable principles or methods. The witness must have reliably applied the principles and methods to the facts of the case.


CONCLUSIONS
Conscientious application of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Guide for the Determination of Work-Relatedness of Disease, as adapted, comforts with legal prerequisites for the admissibility of scientific evidence in medicolegal proceedings.
Sinclair
Donald C
DC
Sinclair Pllc, Occupational and Environmental Legal Consulting, Wheeling, WVa 26003, USA. dsinclair@sinclairconsulting.net
D035881:Compensation and Redress / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005104:Expert Testimony; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D009314:National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, U.S.; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D035521:Supreme Court Decisions; D014481:United States