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55. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie e. V. (DGNC)
1. Joint Meeting mit der Ungarischen Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie (DGNC) e. V.

25. bis 28.04.2004, Köln

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The term causality in neurosurgical expert opinion concerns: "Enemy mine", an old friend with many faces

Der Kausalitätsbegriff im neurochirurgischen Gutachtenwesen: "Geliebter Feind", ein alter Bekannter mit vielen Gesichtern

Meeting Abstract

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  • corresponding author Hilal Yahya - Klinik für Neurochirurgie, Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt/Main
  • K. Franz - Klinik für Neurochirurgie, Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt/Main
  • V. Seifert - Klinik für Neurochirurgie, Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt/Main

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie. Ungarische Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie. 55. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie e.V. (DGNC), 1. Joint Meeting mit der Ungarischen Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie. Köln, 25.-28.04.2004. Düsseldorf, Köln: German Medical Science; 2004. DocDI.01.02

The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://www.egms.de/en/meetings/dgnc2004/04dgnc0144.shtml

Published: April 23, 2004

© 2004 Yahya et al.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.en). You are free: to Share – to copy, distribute and transmit the work, provided the original author and source are credited.

Outline

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Objective

The term causality has an outstanding relevance and important evidence in neurosurgical expert opinion. It is necessary in every expert opinion of coherency and in the most expert opinions for pension or for judgement. The different meanings and their implications in context with juristical demands in criminal, civil and social law are not well known.

Methods

Different aspects of the term causality are presented especially with regard to the adaequance theory prevailing in civil law and pointing out the theory of substantial condition dominating in social law. This is done refering to the scientific-philosophical definition of the term causality and regarding the differentiation and discussion of the term cause according to the neurosurgical literature. Implications and consequences for experts opinion are illustrated.

Results

To elucidate the term causality is not trivial. The knowledge of the various meanings and their differentiation is essential in decisionmaking in expert opinion and according to the legal basis of the asked questions not only helpful but mandatory. This is important especially in questions of legal relevance of a medical cause which is considered to be essential. Depending on criminal, civil or social law proceedings significance and implications may vary.

Conclusions

The term causality in expert opinion has various meanings with different impacts according to juristical demands in criminal, civil and social law. Differenciated knowledge of this variety and accurate use of it is indespensable in expert opinion.