Determination of causal associations in occupational medicine and the medico-legal context: references and standards

Causality is a transdisciplinary topic with the medical-legal field representing one of its most exciting aspects. Since medicine and law have different roots and objectives, this article provides references to support occupational physicians and medico-legal experts in the difficult task of establishing occupational causation. In addition to the traditional Bradford Hill criteria and Schilling’s Classification, additional standards are provided to enhance critical assessment and contribute to the responsible use of the concept of causation in both the legal and medical-occupational fields.