Courting Reliable Science: Judges seek to improve use of scientific experts in trials

摘要

In some of the most complex cases currently crawling through the U.S. courts, upwards of 500,000 women are suing the makers of silicone gel breast implants, claiming a range of medical problems caused by the occasionally leaky packets buried under their skin. At their core, these cases rely on scientific experts to weigh in on whether the implants can damage the human immune system, trigger connective tissue diseases, or precipitate a host of other disorders, from allergies to vertigo. The litigation pits one team of experts against another. Judges and juries must listen to the scientific arguments and then decide which side bears the preponderance of the evidence.