Forensic epidemiology: a method for investigating and quantifying specific causation

The field of forensic epidemiology was initially introduced as a systematic approach to the investigation of acts of bioterrorism. In recent years, however, the applications of forensic epidemiology have expanded greatly, covering a wide range of medicolegal issues routinely encountered in both criminal and civil court settings. Forensic epidemiology provides a method of evaluating causation in groups and individuals based in the application of the Hill Criteria, with conclusions given in terms of relative or comparative risk, or as a Probability of Causation. The purpose of this paper is to give a brief overview of the methods and applications of forensic epidemiology.