Physician Role in
The WSMA believes that the rules and conditions governing amateur and
professional contact sports such as football and hockey, and the extent to
which the risks of bodily injury shall be acceptable to society, require
informed decision-making in which the medical profession has an essential
role. (Reaffirmed A-23)
The WSMA believes the professional responsibility of the physician who
serves in a medical capacity at an athletic contest or sporting event is
to protect the health and safety of the contestants. The desire of
spectators, promoters of the event or even the injured athlete that they
should not be removed from the contest should not be controlling. (JC
3.06-87) (Reaffirmed A-23)
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Abbreviations for House of Delegates report origination:
EC – Executive Committee; BT – Board of Trustees; CPA – Council on
Professional Affairs; JC – Judicial Council; CHS – Community and Health
Services