Medics and players call for independent assessment of head injuries

As the sun sets on what many commentators describe as the greatest World Cup competition ever, an editorial in the August 2014 edition of The Lancet Neurology journal suggests that independent medical assessment should determine whether or not a footballer returns to the pitch after a head injury.

FIFPro, the World Players’ Union, has also called for a well defined concussion policy that puts sideline assessments directly in the hands of independent medical professionals in order to strip out the emotion, adrenaline and vested interests of the players and teams involved. Their stand is at odds with those of governing body FIFA, which maintains that ultimate responsibility lies with the team’s own medical team.

The article acknowledges that whilst many sporting organisations recognise the potential damage that mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) can cause both in the short and longer term, education of players and the public is important in preventing and responding to the effects of TBI, and that players immediately returning to the pitch and continuing to play sends out the wrong message.

Read source articles here:

The Lancet: http://www.thelancet.com/journals/laneur/article/PIIS1474-4422(14)70161-9/fulltext

FIFPro: http://www.fifpro.org/en/news/universal-support-for-fifpro-on-concussion-protocol

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-28262874