Uncertain Causation in Medical Liability

Lara Khoury, LL.B (Sherb.) B.C.L. (Oxon.), D.Phil (Oxon.), Barrister and Solicitor, is an Assistant Professor of Law at McGill University, Canada.

Introduction Section 1-A Society of Risks and Uncertainty Section 2-Uncertainty in Medical Malpractice Section 3-Jurisdictions, Fields of Law, and Methodology Section 4-Structure Chapter 1: Problems in the Proof of Causation Section 1-Proof of Causation Section 2-Evidence in the Four Jurisdictions Section 3-The Impact of Scientific Uncertainties on the Proof of Causation Chapter 2: Flexibility . Section 1-Importance and Mutability of the Traditional Standards . Section 2-Flexibility and Independence of the Judiciary . Section 3-Flexibility in Light of Expert Controversies Chapter 3: Reversal of the Burden of Proving Causation . Section 1-Common Law ... Section 2-Civil Law . . Section 3-Critical Analysis . Chapter 4: Probabilistic Assessment of Damages . Section 1-Loss of Chance Section 2-Market-share Liability . Section 3-Critical Analysis (Loss of Chance) Chapter 5: Inferences of Causation Section 1-Inferences and Factual Presumptions . . Section 2-The Development of Justifications Section 3-Critical Analysis Final Analysis and Conclusion Section 1-General Review . Section 2-Review of the Critique of the Solutions Section 3-The Alternative-Cumulative Causes Distinction . . Section 4-Flexibility and the Evidential Solution Section 5-Alternative Solutions?