The Swine Flu Vaccine and Guillain-BarrÉ Syndrome

D. A. Freedman and Philip B. Stark
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D. A. Freedman: University of California, Berkeley
Philip B. Stark: University of California, Berkeley

Evaluation Review, 1999, vol. 23, issue 6, 619-647

Abstract: Epidemiologic methods were developed to prove general causation: identifying exposures that increase the risk of particular diseases. Courts often are more interested in specific causation: On balance of probabilities, was the plaintiff's disease caused by exposure to the agent in question? Some authorities have suggested that a relative risk greater than 2.0 meets the standard of proof for specific causation. Such a definite criterion is appealing, but there are difficulties. Bias and confounding are familiar problems; individual differences must be considered too. The issues are explored in the context of the swine flu vaccine and Guillain-Barré syndrome. The conclusion: There is a considerable gap between relative risks and proof of specific causation.

Date: 1999
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:evarev:v:23:y:1999:i:6:p:619-647

DOI: 10.1177/0193841X9902300603

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