Question

Issues with using epidemiologic data in legal decisions

Answer 1

Epidemiology: It is the study of the distribution and determinants of health and disease, injuries, disability, and mortality in populations.

Key characteristics of Epidemiology

- population focus
- distribution
- determinants
- outcomes
- quantification
- control of health problems

Issues with using Epidemiologic data in legal decisions:

-Where there is a link between factor and health outcome - does this mean the factor is the cause of disease?
-Is there is an association, does the amount of disease vary according to the amount of exposure to the factor?
-Based on the observation of such an association, what practical steps should individuals and public health departments take?
-Do the findings from an epidemiologic study merit panic or measured response?
-How applicable are the findings to settings other than the one in which the research was conducted?

answered by: anonymous