Proving that mold made someone sick usually depends on a physician's opinion. At the October 2026 Safe Housing Collaborative conference, physicians described the method a treating doctor uses to reach that opinion. Understanding the method can help patients give their doctors the information they need.
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), reports in its fact sheet Mold and Your Health that people in damp, moldy buildings face an increased risk of respiratory problems. NIEHS identifies allergic reactions as the most common health effect and also cites research linking mold exposure to cognitive effects, depression, and anxiety.
Physicians described a familiar medical method called a differential diagnosis. The doctor examines the patient, considers whether mold exposure explains the symptoms, and works to rule out other causes. The opinion rests on the patient's symptoms, the doctor's own examination, the medical literature, and the alternative causes the doctor considered. Physicians stressed that the doctor should have treated the patient and should review the mold reports from the home.
That last point matters for patients. A physician who sees the inspection report and laboratory results can connect the symptoms to the home far more confidently than one who hears only that the apartment seemed musty. Bring copies of the report to your appointments, describe when your symptoms began and whether they ease when you spend time away from the home, and ask that your doctor note the exposure in your chart.
In Rochkind v. Stevenson, 471 Md. 1 (2020), the Supreme Court of Maryland adopted the reliability analysis drawn from federal law, often called the Daubert standard, for expert testimony under Maryland Rule 5-702. Courts now look at whether a particular expert's method is reliable. A careful differential diagnosis, supported by testing of the home, fits that analysis well.
To discuss a Maryland mold injury claim, e-mail chris@attorneybeard.com or call (410) 267-0227.
