The concept of cause in disease.

Reinforcement of the concept of cause in the current lexical sense, i.e. as the sole prerequisite in the production of a disease, is essential to medical progress. Multiple factors participate in disease pathogenesis but distinguishing between cause and all contributing, conditional or risk factors is not merely a semantic exercise. To proceed otherwise is scientifically inaccurate and should be avoided for the sake of logic, clarity and precision in scientific communications and education. All non-causative, associated factors should be classified according to the specific role each plays in the pathogenesis and natural history of disease.