1. Legal Terms and Issues
in Athletics

2. LIABILITY
Is the state of BEING LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE HARM ONE CAUSES ANOTHER PERSON.

3. Must act according to the standards of a reasonable prudent person with comparable education, skills and training
The Athletic Trainer
The Coach
The Student Athletic Trainer

4. "REASONABLE CARE“
"COMMON SENSE"

5. NEGLIGENCE
The FAILURE to use ordinary or reasonable care

6. Due Care Common Sense Care
Reasonable care an ordinary person with comparable education would use

7. TORT Legal Wrong committed against the person or property of another
Two Basic Type of Tort Claims
Acts of Omission
Acts of Commission

8. ACT OF OMISSION The Athletic Trainer FAILS to PERFORM a Legal Duty
Don’t DO something YOU SHOULD DO

9. Examples
An Athletic Trainer fails to refer a seriously injured athlete for the proper medical attention
An Athletic Trainer fails to know the medical history of an athlete which results in a medical emergency
i.e. Medical allergies, food allergies, drug allergies, medical conditions

10. ACT OF COMMISSION
The Athletic Trainer COMMITS an act that is not LEGALLY his/hers to perform
Do something you aren’t trained to do

11. Examples
An Athletic Trainer performs a medical treatment not within his or her legal province and serious medical complications develop
An Athletic Trainer administers prescription medication to an athlete without direct instructions from a physician

12. Four Basic Elements of Tort Allegations
Courts will look for four basic elements in any tort allegation

13. 1) STANDARD OF CARE
Did you act REASONABLE when carrying out your everyday activities?

14. 2) BREACH OF DUTY Did you FAIL to exercise reasonable care?
Did you violate a law?

15. 3) PROXIMATE CAUSE OF A RESULTING INJURY
Did YOUR breach of duty substantially contribute to the injury?
Did you FAIL to FORSEE the injury with a particular action?

16. 4) THERE MUST BE INJURY
The Sports Medicine professional has a DUTY to ADHERE to the Recognized Standard of Care of the Profession

17. Examples of Torts
An athletic trainer through improper or careless handling of a therapeutic agent, seriously burns an athlete
An Athletic Trainer moves a possibly seriously injured athlete from the field of play to permit competition or practice to continue and does so either in an improper manner or before consulting those qualified to know the proper course of action and injures the athlete.

18. Tort Claims
The Tort Concept of Negligence is held by the courts, when it is proven that an individual:

19. DOES something that a reasonably prudent person would NOT DO
FAILS to do something that a reasonably prudent person would do under circumstances similar to those shown by the evidence

20. ASSUMPTION OF RISK
The Courts Generally Acknowledge that Hazards ARE PRESENT in sports through the Concept of "Assumption of Risk."

21. The individual, either by expressed or implied agreement, assumes the danger and hence relieves the other individual of legal responsibility to protect him or her.
The Athlete agrees there are risks

22. This in no way exempts those in charge from exercising reasonable care and prudence in the conduct of activities or from foreseeing and taking precautionary measures

23. Athletes MUST: Know the Risks Understand the Risks
Appreciate the Risks

24. NEWSFLASH!!! Minors CAN NOT Waive Their Rights
Not able to make a mature judgement

25. WARNING OF RISKS
At the Beginning of each season Athletes must be sufficiently warned of the Possible Risks Inherent with that sport.
Explain the Rules and the Dangers they may face when using improper and dangerous techniques

26. FORESEEABILITY OF RISK
ATHLETES HEALTH AND WELFARE #1 PRIORITY

27. Regular Checks of Facilities
HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS
Accurate Records of Injuries and Treatments

28. LIABILITY OF THE ATHLETIC TRAINER

29. As a Result of National Certification and State Licensure, the Risk of Liability for Negligence of Athletic Trainers has also Increased.

30. There are NOW Higher Standards of Care to which Athletic Trainers must Adhere to.

31. The Standards form a Legal Duty, the breach of which constitutes Negligence

32. REAL SPORTS MEDICINE COURT CASES

33. A STUDENT TRAINER FOR A COLLEGE BASKETBALL TEAM INFORMED THE TEAM'S TREATING PHYSICIAN THAT HE HAD BEEN "ICING" THE SPRAINED ANKLE OF A BASKETBALL PLAYER.

34. THE PHYSICIAN ASSUMED THAT "ICING" MEANT APPLYING ICE PACKS
THE PHYSICIAN ASSUMED THAT "ICING" MEANT APPLYING ICE PACKS. INSTEAD, THE TRAINER HAD USED ICE WATER IMMERSION TREATMENT FOR THE ANKLE.

35. THE ATHLETE SLEPT OVERNIGHT WITH THE ANKLE SUBMERGED IN A BUCKET OF ICE WATER AND CONTINUED TO IMMERSE THE FOOT FOR SEVERAL DAYS.

36. AFTER DISCOVERING THAT THE BASKETBALL PLAYER WAS STILL USING ICE WATER IMMERSION THREE DAYS LATER, THE TRAINER IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE PHYSICIAN, WHO INSTRUCTED THE TRAINER TO STOP THE ICE WATER TREATMENT.

37. SIX DAYS AFTER THE INJURY, THE ATHLETE VISITED THE PHYSICIAN AGAIN AND WAS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING THROMBOPHLEBITIS AND FROSTBITE OF THE FOURTH AND FIFTH TOES.

38. ULTIMATELY, MUSCLE TISSUE IN THE FOOT HAD TO BE REMOVED AND ONE GANGRENOUS TOE HAD TO BE AMPUTATED. THE ATHLETE SUED THE COLLEGE AND THE STUDENT TRAINER.

39. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE JURY FOUND?
NOT GUILTY!
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE JURY FOUND?

40. THE ATHLETE HAD BEEN CONTRIBUTORILY NEGLIGENT IN THE SITUATION AND WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS OWN INJURIES.

41. WHAT WAS LEARNED?
THIS CASE EMPHASIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF CLEAR COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE PHYSICIAN, ATHLETIC TRAINER AND ATHLETE

42. ANOTHER EXAMPLE

43. A STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL PLAYER SUSTAINED AN INJURY TO HIS CERVICAL SPINE AS A RESULT OF AN ALLEGEDLY DEFECTIVE FOOTBALL HELMET SUED NOT ONLY THE MANUFACTURER OF THE HELMET BUT ALSO THE ATHLETIC TRAINER.

44. IT WAS ALLEGED THAT THE TRAINER FAILED TO WARN THE ATHLETE OF THE DANGERS OF THE HELMET.

45. THE JURY FOUND IN FAVOR OF THE
ATHLETE

46. POINTS TO KEEP IN MIND!
THUS, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT A TRAINER COULD HAVE A DUTY TO WARN AN ATHLETE OF THE INHERENT DANGERS OF EQUIPMENT WHICH THE ATHLETE MAY USE.

47. IF THE ATHLETIC TRAINER DOES NOT SO WARN THE ATHLETE, AND THE ATHLETE IS INJURED WHILE USING THE EQUIPMENT, THEN THE TRAINER MAY BE NEGLIGENT.

48. BE A SMART & PRUDENTATHLETIC TRAINER!