RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Cause of occupational disease. JF Occupational and Environmental Medicine JO Occup Environ Med FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd SP 289 OP 293 DO 10.1136/oem.52.5.289 VO 52 IS 5 A1 D C Muir YR 1995 UL http://oem.bmj.com/content/52/5/289.abstract AB The concept of causality is reviewed with special emphasis on occupational diseases. Separate approaches from the philosophical, scientific, and legal points of view are identified. There is controversy over the methodology of logical causality; inductive and deductive methods are described and reference is made to the verification or refutation approach. Application of the methods to epidemiology are reviewed. It is likely that many diseases have multiple causes and that only a component of occupational causality can be identified in each patient. Methods of assigning such a component are discussed. The difficulties of developing an equitable compensation policy in such circumstances are reviewed. The possible benefits of proportional compensation are noted.