Causation Assessment

Causation assessment evaluates whether a medically explicable, consistent and documentable causal link exists between a specific event, act or omission and the medical outcome alleged. The mere chronological sequence — an event followed by a health consequence — is not sufficient to establish causation.

• A physical injury, illness or functional loss alleged to result from a specific traumatic event
• The causal link between a physician's act or omission and a harmful outcome
• Whether a deviation in care caused or materially contributed to the harm alleged
• Death cases: the relationship between the alleged cause (trauma, delay, intervention) and the manner and cause of death
• Whether a pre-existing condition was aggravated by the incident
• Whether post-incident complications fall within the natural course of the initial injury
• Whether multiple contributing factors each independently caused or contributed to the outcome
• Whether an intervening cause broke the chain of causation

A sound causation opinion requires the complete documentary record: medical records, imaging, operative notes, autopsy and toxicology reports (where applicable), incident reports, witness statements and all other relevant documentation. Evidence supporting the alleged causal link and evidence pointing to alternative explanations must both be considered.