[Logical methods for determination of causality in «medical cases»]

The objective of this study is to determine the place of formal logic methods for determination of causality in 'medical cases'. The study was carried out using the dialectical method, as well as analysis, generalization, induction, deduction, comparison, and the statistical method. Using the principle of causality, the authors stipulate that causality is not only a tool of categorical comprehension of the world, but also a form of thinking activity that allows us to directly discover cause-and-effect patterns. The principle of conditio sine qua non is used in conjunction with other methods of formal logic to identify causality. Further dialectical methods of cognition are applied, which involve appealing to the categories of possibility and reality, necessity and randomness, essence and phenomenon, etc. A mistake made at the stage of applying the methods of formal logic leads to an erroneous conclusion on the whole situation of establishing causality. The article demonstrates this with the example of 'medical cases'. The correct application of logical methods of detecting causality does not yet predetermine the correctness of the final decision on the causality. The authors conclude that the forensic expert examines only individual aspects of legally significant causality in the permissible use of the construct of direct causality, and in general the legal assessment of the presence or absence of causality is made in the process of qualification of the criminal situation, involving the establishment of socially dangerous act as an independent component of legally significant causal relationship, the guilt of the person and other elements of the crime.