Probability of causation for cancers potentially induced by ionizing radiation

Med Phys. 1989 May-Jun;16(3):406-13. doi: 10.1118/1.596349.

Abstract

Prompted by increasing litigation claiming cancer induction from exposure to radiation from nuclear weapons tests, the United States Congress enacted an amendment to the Orphan Drug Act (Public Law 97-414, January 4, 1983), through which the National Institutes of Health was directed to and did produce Probability of Causation (PC) Tables. This review defines PC and discusses the data, limitations, and uses of the concept.

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms / etiology
  • Female
  • Forensic Medicine*
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Radiation-Induced / etiology
  • Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / etiology*
  • Probability
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / etiology
  • United States