The Virginian-Pilot
©
RICHMOND
A bill that would require medical clearance before a student athlete who had a concussion could return to play was bruised Wednesday.
The House Education Committee delayed a vote on Sen. Ralph Northam’s bill after debate over whether it went too far in legislating sports. Northam, D-Norfolk, argued that SB652 would protect athletes and help educate parents, students and coaches about the dangers of concussions.
“There’s a tremendous amount of pressure out there for them to return to play,” from coaches, parents and fans, said Northam, a pediatric neurologist.
But Del. Chris Stolle, R-Virginia Beach and an obstetrician/gynecologist, said the approval from a licensed health-care provider sets the bar too high.
Some family practioners who aren’t trained in concussions could not provide the written approval, Stolle said.
“We’re putting a high standard on parents,” Stolle said, who said he supported the educational elements of the bills.
Northam said his intention was to allow even qualified athlete trainers and physician assistants to clear an athlete.
Del. Bob Tata, R-Virginia Beach and a retired high school football coach, asked both sides to try and work out a compromise before the committee’s next meeting on Monday.
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Twitter
Google
Yahoo
Who cares about the kids?
Who cares about the kids? So what if we start these kids down the path to neurological damage at an early age. Won't somebody think about the adults? It's imperative that the GA spend their time making sure people can carry their handguns into bars so that they are readily available once they become intoxicated, surely you don't expect them to have any free time to worry about the health and safety of kids participating in school sanctioned athletics.
I AGREE
I've got to agree with the previous posters. I'm a big fan of football, but until a kid has reached the age of the majority (as pro players have), we--citizens, parents and fans--are obliged to look out for the kids' best interests. A doctor's okay sounds perfectly reasonable--and if the doctor can't give it, that's a darn good reason to keep the kid off the field a while longer. Plus, it would be a shame to see a promising kid's chances at the career of his choice (whether sports or not) ruined because a rush to get him back in the game. Shame on Delegate Stolle.
a qualified decision-maker?
An obstetrician/gynecologist is making a decision that could affect the health and safety of my children? Since when are we as a society having people who don't know anything about neurology, neuropsychology, neuropsychiatry, or the brain make decisions about life and death? Indeed, a concussion can lead to life-long deficits in cognitive, physical, emotional, sensory and behavioral functioning. And it only takes on concussion to end someone’s life as he or she knows it, not to mention the person’s family and friends and other loved ones.
As a professional and survivor of TBI, I know all too well how this silent epidemic of TBI (yes, concussion is a TBI!) does not get the attention it warrants. Every 6 minutes someone dies of a TBI. Someone in the U.S. sustains a TBI every 23 seconds. Will that be your child? Are any of my children now in jeopardy of a lifetime of disability because of an ill-informed Republican's dissention to a much-needed piece of legislation? Perhaps if Mr. Stolle's child was in the ICU hooked up to monitors and life-sustaining equipment he would think differently. We can only hope and pray it isn't too late for him to put aside his ignorance so
Concussion Bill
Concussion is the most common type of brain injury sustained in sports. Brain injuries, especially multiple consussions can be life changing affecting, thinking, behavior and imposing serious physical limitations. For a physician like Delegate Stolle to oppose a bill with the objective of keeping student athletes safe is baffling, at best. The bill sponsored by Senator Northam( a physician who regularly sees what havoc brain injuries can cause) wisely proposes very prudent mechanisms to educate parents and students about concussions and assure that the student athlete is fit to play. What could possibly be the problem with this?
Sports Concussions
As the parent of 2 former high school athletes from Virgina Beach I am very upset by Delgate Stolle's role in delaying the passage of the sports concussion bill. When my son sustained a concussion during a football game, in addition to the trainer I took him to his pediatrician for an evaluation before he was allowed to return to playing. In addition, my daughter had been hit in the head with a softball and I also took her to the pediatrician for an evaluation. I would not have ever considered bringing either of them to my gyn for evaluation for a concussion, but was confident then as I am today that their pediatric group as well as my family doctor would be knowledgeable regarding symptoms of concussions.
In addition to being a parent, I am also a professional working with Brain Injury survivors for the past 15 years. My hope is that this bill would prevent some of the young high school athletes of today from becoming participants in my program by helping to prevent some moderate to severe brain injuries as a result of returning to playing their sport too soon after a concussion.
Concussions
"Some family practioners (sic) who aren’t trained in concussions could not provide the written approval, Stolle said."
I would think that any doctor that has attended Med school for the requisite years would have some experience with concussions, either in class or on the job (internship). This proposal is common sense, something Mr. Stolle is obviously lacking.
Here is where your statement
Here is where your statement went wrong:
"I would think"
It may be speculation, but I am 'thinking' the good doctor knows better than us.