title: Legal issues affecting medical clearance to resume play after mild brain injury.
abstract: Physician care of athletes suffering mild brain trauma involves medical and legal considerations. Physicians must adhere to their primary responsibility to protect their athletes' health by following good medical practice and not allowing nonmedical factors to unduly influence their judgment. Courts recognize the team physician's role as gatekeeper and generally defer to his or her medical judgment in return-to-play decisions.
authors.affiliation: National Sports Law Institute, Marquette University Law School, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233, USA.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Mitten
mesh_terms: D001265:Athletic Injuries; D001930:Brain Injuries; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D013178:Sports Medicine / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*