Causal Relationships in Medicine

This book shows that in most controversial questions in medicine the essential argument concerns whether the evidence available supports a particular cause and effect relationship. The author shows how the possible causal and non-causal explanations can be considered in a logical manner.

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The purpose of this book is to help readers to use their existing skills and knowledge more effectively. The book aims to show that in most controversial questions in medicine the essential argument concerns whether the evidence available supports a particular cause and effect relationship. The author demonstrates that by defining the postulated causal relationship, the possible causal and non-causal explanations can be considered in a logical and constructive manner. The book assumes no preliminary knowledge, but starts from a simple logical base to lead the reader through the types of studies which are relevant: the issues of selection of subjects, bias in observations, influences of other factors and statistical analysis. This produces a question and answer system which gives a practical approach which can be applied to a wider range of clinical and epidemiological issues. To show its application, three papers describing a randomized clinical trial, a prospective cohort study and a retrospective case control study are reproduced, and a critical assessment of each is presented.