Ethical Issues Surrounding Concussions and Player Safety
Having worked in the sports industry for several years, I am acutely aware of the ethical issues surrounding concussions and player safety. There are several problems, including the lack of research into the prevalence of concussions in athletes, the self-reporting of symptoms by athletes, and the conflicts of interest between medical staff and athletes. Providing health care to athletes is a balancing act. Doctors must provide care that is in line with a player's goals. They must also be vigilant about underreporting symptoms. They must also keep players from returning to the field prematurely. While there is no doubt that some players receive excellent health care from outside their clubs, there are also players who have very little access to quality health care. This makes it all the more important for healthcare providers to be vigilant about players who underreport symptoms. Some players are sophisticated about the health care they receive. It is not a good idea to put all of...