Litigation

Is it time that NFL fire the head of its concussion committee?

By Michael Kaplen

According to the New York Times and AP, the  National Football League Players Association has called for the removal of Dr. Ira Casson as co-chairman of the league's committee on concussions, saying that he is too biased to lead research efforts and fails to appreciate the dangers inherent with the post concussion syndrome.

Without commenting on the association's position, I can only add that I have had my own difficulties in trying to discuss the important issues of player safety with Dr. Casson.  While president of the Brain Injury Association of New York State an chair of its major sports concussion conference at Madison Square Garden, I invited both Dr. Casson and his co-chair, to participate.  I was amazed that despite the participation of the leading experts in sports concussions from throughout the nation, the NFL "experts" refused to participate.  Later, when the league was holding open meetings on the subject, I asked for permission to attend.  I was curtly informed that as an attorney and president of the Brain Injury Association, I was not welcome.

The player's association has said that they do not feel that Dr. Casson is impartial.  He has dismissed all studies which have found a link between football concussions and early onset dementia. 

It is time that the NFL examines the important public health crisis of concussions in sports in an objective and forthright manner.  It is not only the professional players that need this protection, but also all those involved in youth sports who look to the NFL for advice and guidance on this safety issue.

WHEN IN DOUBT, KEEP THEM OUT!

Full post as published by Brain Injury News and Information on November 22, 2009 (boomark / email).