General and Specific Causation

General causation asks whether an exposure or product is capable of causing a particular type of injury or disease. Specific causation asks whether it caused the condition in the individual plaintiff. Courts often address both questions in toxic exposure, pharmaceutical, and medical device cases. Evidence can include epidemiology, toxicology, dose, timing, biological mechanism, diagnostic findings, and alternative causes. Evidence that supports one level of causation may not be enough to prove the other.