Litigation

Suffolk County, New York Legislature Passes Concussion Legislation--More Thought Needed Before This Bill Becomes Law

By Michael Kaplen

This past tuesday the Suffolk County, New York legislature unanimously approved legislation which would require county-contracted youth sports agencies to develop a written policy to address incidents of a possible or actual concussion or other head injury among participants, provide parents with head injury information and prevent athletes from returning to play until they are medically cleared.

The bill does not mandate the criteria to be used, the decisions that need to be made and how these agencies are to get the guidance that is necessary. While this legislation is an important acknowledgment of the dangers of sports concussions in youth sports, I wonder whether it will accomplish its goal.  Perhaps, some modifications need to be made before we end of up with a mixed bag of policies and regulations that promote more confusion then good prevention.

Full post as published by Brain Injury News and Information on December 17, 2009 (boomark / email).