Litigation

Some thoughts on last week's NFL brain injury medical committee meeting

By Michael Kaplen

Perhaps, the National Football League is being to get it. 

Last week, the NFL?s new Medical Committee on the Head, Neck and Spine (formally known as the Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Committee), held a closed door meeting [these type of meetings to discuss the health and safety of players always cause me to be suspicious]  at Johns Hopkins University.

However, following this meeting, the new committee co-chairs, Dr's. Richard G. Ellenbogen and Hunt Batjer held a press conference in which they are reported as saying they understand the need for a ?culture change? in professional football when it comes to concussions and further understand the important role model that the NFL and its players have on all youth sports.

It's not surprising that they have come to this realization give the skepticism voiced by members of Congress on the bona fides of the NFL and its committee during the prior week's continued NFL hearings. 

Reportedly, Dr. Ellenbogen said, "The youth athletes are looking to the professionals as role models, and the professionals now realize if they don't do it right, the kids aren't going to do it right,"   While I have been saying this for years, it is encouraging to hear that the NFL and its medical committee is finally getting on the same page.

News reports also indicate that NFL head, Roger Goodell also understands the importance of addressing concussions and the health and safety of players and is granting the doctors and their committee independence from the league. 

In the past, the medical committee was controlled by doctors who also received financial remuneration from teams and whose qualifications to address the important issues surrounding brain damage were highly questionable. It?s about time that this important committee be controlled by independent and objective experts.

The NFL has toughened its procedures governing when players may return from concussions. In December, the league notified teams that players suffering concussions must not return to games or practice that day, and must be given a neurological test.

However, the league needs to understand that it?s not only multiple concussions that are of concern.  Each and every concussion, including the first has the ability to cause permanent and life long injury to a player.  It?s not enough to address the issue of multiple concussions.  All concussions need to be taken seriously. WHEN IN DOUBT, KEEP THEM OUT must be the attitude of the league and all teams.

I again suggest that not only player?s need to be informed about the serious and life long consequences of concussions and brain injury, but spouses, parents and significant others need to be educated as well.  You cannot rely upon the veracity of player to indicate to a team physician that they are symptom free.  You need the input of disinterested but concerned family and friends.

Full post as published by Brain Injury News and Information on June 06, 2010 (boomark / email).