Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Those neurologists who perform medicolegal work are unlikely to have overlooked the intense debate that has raged in recent years in legal circles regarding the possible association between multiple sclerosis and trauma. Some high profile legal cases have taken place and reports on these have, from time-to-time, found their way into the national UK press. It might be assumed that the decisions made in law courts in the various parts of the British Isles would be able to draw on a wealth of previous cases that have addressed this issue. Rather surprisingly, there is relatively limited established legal data addressing this issue and the same few cases crop up frequently in discussion. Neurologists might be interested to hear a little of the nature of the cases that provide the background for current legal judgements.

THE ISSUES

I would probably agree with our colleagues in the legal profession that it