The American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine on June 12 shared an open letter expressing concern for team physicians and medical liability risk.
The letter addresses an elevated liability risk for team physicians as athletes "inherently have higher risks of injury, lower return-to-play rates and increased likelihood of significant loss of high-earning income potential."
Earlier this year, former Philadelphia Eagles captain Chris Maragos won a $43.5 million jury verdict in his lawsuit targeting an orthopedic surgeon who operated on his knee in 2018. Mr. Maragos alleged the medical team allowed him to advance his activities after the surgery even though an MRI showed his knee was not improving, leading to a premature end to his NFL career.
The AOSSM said recent and ongoing litigation could have a negative effect on medical care for professional athletes. The organization said subspecialties should band together to fight the "unnecessarily high legal risk of practicing sports medicine and the damage that it will do to the profession and the medical care of athletes."
"Now is the time to stand up for physicians — who have made the commitment to acquire subspecialized expertise — and the athletes they serve," the letter said. "A concerted effort is needed to preserve the future of the sports medicine field, and in cases where expert testimony is required, this testimony should come from a qualified medical physician expert."
The following organizations co-signed the letter:
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Arthroscopy Association of North American
American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
American Academy of Sports Physical Therapy
American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons
American Association of Latino Orthopaedic Surgeons
American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
American College of Sports Medicine
American Medical Society for Sports Medicine
American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine
American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons
American Society for Surgery of the Hand
The FORUM
J. Robert Gladden Orthopaedic Society
Major League Baseball Team Physician Association
Musculoskeletal Tumor Society
National Athletic Training Association
National Basketball League Physician Association
National Collegiate Athletics Association Sport Science Institute
National Hockey League Team Physician Society
National Women's Soccer League
North American Spine Society
Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America
Pediatric Research in Sports Medicine Society
Professional Soccer Physician Society
Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society