Generally, ethics is defined as the investigation conducted of the primary moral assumptions that are held by individuals, professions, or organizations that are later used to help members in differentiating wrong and right thus, making sound decisions. In sports and physical activity, ethics has been used to protect the client’s welfare through adopting, developing, and enforcing guidelines that help in regulating the conduct of their members in professional settings. In the area of sport, ethics is an area of concern because ethical issues like drug use, sports and money, and concussions among others. The story of Fred McNeill’s, a football player for 22 years, is a familiar one and he played as a linebacker in the NFL. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) symptoms became evident after his retirement that included depression, memory loss, his motor skills deteriorated eventually and amyotrophic later sclerosis (ALS) started piling up. He later died at the age of 63. This case is different because all other players with CTE had their disorder diagnosed after their death, but in McNeill’s case researchers detected the presence of the protein, tau, while he was still alive. It was in November’s issue of the medical journal Neurosurgery that the story emerged. Such ethical issues have raised questions as they are related to concussions among football players and hence, it is the mandatory of football institutions to make the game safer for their players.
The emergence of McNeill’s case prompted the football federation to compile a graded checklist to help them recognize concussions on the sidelines and thus, implementation of the checklist help in the road to recovery for those patients suffering from the disorder. Regardless of the diagnosis used, players suspected to have concussion need to be removed from play and prompt examination need to be done by experienced and knowledgeable personnel. It is from this that the identification and management of the concussion can be attained. In addition, cognitive examinations need to be performed plus a neurological physical examination to help in assessing the severity of the disorder.
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The ethical issue related to concussion in sports and physical activity has been seen to lack unity or coherence with regard to recommendation for adult athletes. Nonetheless, federations continue to be guided by their duty of care and best interest of their clients with relation to judgments. As such, special protection both legally and ethically re accorded to such populations of people because they are typically not seen as competent or autonomous. The word typically comes into play because ethical considerations provided do not specify when sports professionals are competent to make competent decisions. By this we mean, an individual who can be relied upon to make decisions that are informed and autonomous in nature with justification of their choices and lifestyles. In cases where an individual is not able to make informed decisions, the justification of football federation coming into play is verified because they are acting in the best interests of their players.
Concussion continues to be an ethical issue in the sports arena and for the clinician; it presents both legal and ethical issues. Hence, physicians are ascribed with ethical duties and responsibilities of caring for the athletes with concussion in terms of prioritizing current and future mental and physical health of their patients. Therefore, it is the ethical duty of doctors to provide information on the risk factors associated to concussion and the symptoms of the disorder to the athlete. By so doing, they will help the athletes make sound decisions both for short and long term goals touching on the direction of their sports career. Since concussion is a rapidly growing health concern, it is necessary for the sports personnel to continue providing their players with education and other research topics that will help in reducing the prevalence of the disorder. Ethically, doctors treating these athletes need to protect them from harm and also respect the views of family members, as well as those of the managing team.
In summary, ethics in sports and physical activity is a broad subject to delve into as it touches on the needs and interest of different stakeholders. However, the athlete with the concussion needs to come first at all times and ensure that their interests are upheld, always.
