[AIRM Guidelines for the use of Probability of Causation]
Abstract
Probability of Causation (PC) method is largely applied, since it is now the recognized tool to identify the causal nexus not only in compensation claims in insurance sector (for which it was initially used) but also to settle legal disputes both in civil and criminal matters. Thanks to the Italian Association of Medical Radiation Protection (AIRM), PC method has been recently proposed as an aid for the radiation protection occupational physician in medical assessments involving both the mandatory actions that, in case of suspicion of occupational disease, the physician needs to perform (report / complaint / reporting) and the expression of the fitness evaluation in case of return to work after cancer and clinical recovery.
For all these uses PC value, calculated through the method, should be used in a flexible manner, and thus lead to different decisions, "modulated" on the basis of purposes and listed contexts; and this not only within the legal framework, but also in the strictly professional one. According to different purposes, different PC values are proposed as a reference for the decisions to be taken.
References
- Fiori A. La causalità nelle malattia professionali - Lezione magistrale al VI Convegno di Medicina Legale Previdenziale - S. Margherita di Pula (CA) - 15-17 novembre 2006.
- ILO-IAEA-WHO. Approaches to Attribution of Detrimental Health Effects to Occupational Ionizing Radiation Exposure and their Application in Compensation Programmes for Cancer. Occupational Safety and Health Series No.73 (2010).
- INAIL. Malattie professionali: criteri per l'accertamento dell'origine professionale delle malattie. Direzione centrale prestazioni - Sovrintendenza medica generale - Avvocatura generale Prot. n. 7876/bis16.2.2006.
- Trenta G (coord) et al. Linee guida per la sorveglianza medica dei lavoratori esposti a radiazioni ionizzanti, pub. AIRM - 2013, Pagine 334, Ipsoa Editore S.r.l. Gruppo WK).
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