General Causation

General causation is the question of whether a substance is capable of causing a particular disease in people at all, as a general matter. It is distinct from specific causation, which asks whether the substance caused this particular patient's disease. In asbestos cases, general causation asks whether asbestos can cause the disease at issue, such as mesothelioma or lung cancer.

Origin

The general and specific causation distinction developed in toxic-tort and product-liability law, and became especially prominent in U.S. courts after the Daubert decision (1993) tightened standards for expert scientific testimony. It reflects the two-step logic courts use to evaluate whether an exposure caused harm.

Significance in Asbestos Context

For your case, general causation is often the easier half to establish for classic asbestos diseases, because the scientific link between asbestos and mesothelioma is well accepted. Experts show, using epidemiology and biological mechanism, that asbestos can cause the disease in question. The harder, more contested step is usually specific causation, proving that your exposure caused your disease. Defendants sometimes challenge general causation for less-established conditions, so which disease you have affects how much this step is disputed.

Example Sentence

General causation was not seriously contested, since it is well established that asbestos causes pleural mesothelioma.

Related Terms

Specific Causation, Daubert Standard, Epidemiology, Causation, Substantial Factor

Notes

• Ask your legal team which diseases in your case have well-settled general causation.
• Keep clear records of your diagnosis type, since general causation is stronger for some asbestos diseases than others.
• General causation relies on the body of scientific literature, not on your individual exposure facts.