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Relation of probability of causation to relative risk and doubling dose: A methodologic error that has become a social problem

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  • Greenland, S.

Abstract

Epidemiologists, biostatisticians, and health physicians frequently serve as expert consultants to lawyers, courts, and administrators. One of the most common errors committed by experts is to equate, without qualification, the attributable fraction estimated from epidemiologic data to the probability of causation requested by courts and administrators. This error has become so pervasive that it has been incorporated into judicial precedents and legislation. This commentary provides a brief overview of the error and the context in which it arises.

Suggested Citation

  • Greenland, S., 1999. "Relation of probability of causation to relative risk and doubling dose: A methodologic error that has become a social problem," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 89(8), pages 1166-1169.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:1999:89:8:1166-1169_2
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    Cited by:

    1. Peter Morfeld & Thomas C. Erren, 2017. "Premature deaths attributed to ambient air pollutants: let us interpret the Robins–Greenland theorem correctly," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 62(3), pages 337-338, April.
    2. Peter Morfeld & Thomas C. Erren, 2016. "Quantifying the health impacts of ambient air pollutants: methodological errors must be avoided," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 61(3), pages 383-384, April.
    3. Sonja Klebe & James Leigh & Douglas W. Henderson & Markku Nurminen, 2019. "Asbestos, Smoking and Lung Cancer: An Update," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-23, December.
    4. Marie-Eve Héroux & Bert Brunekreef & H. Ross Anderson & Richard Atkinson & Aaron Cohen & Francesco Forastiere & Fintan Hurley & Klea Katsouyanni & Daniel Krewski & Michal Krzyzanowski & Nino Künzli & , 2016. "Response to “Quantifying the health impacts of ambient air pollutants: methodological errors must be avoided”," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 61(3), pages 387-388, April.
    5. James K. Hammitt & Peter Morfeld & Jouni T. Tuomisto & Thomas C. Erren, 2020. "Premature Deaths, Statistical Lives, and Years of Life Lost: Identification, Quantification, and Valuation of Mortality Risks," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 40(4), pages 674-695, April.
    6. Leila M. Barraj & Nga L. Tran & Michael Goodman & Michael E. Ginevan, 2008. "Perspective: Risk Apportionment and Disease Intervention Strategies," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(2), pages 477-486, April.
    7. Pearl Judea, 2010. "An Introduction to Causal Inference," The International Journal of Biostatistics, De Gruyter, vol. 6(2), pages 1-62, February.

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