A local legislature has passed a bill aimed at protecting youth athletes and raising head injury awareness.  The legislation 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.  As an attorney representing brain injury victims and athletes who have suffered head injuries, I cannot emphasize strongly enough the need for similar legislation nationwide, at all levels of government, to protect our athletes.  For the full article, please click on the following link:  http://www.northshoreoflongisland.com/Articles-i-2009-12-17-82453.112114-sub_Head_injury_caution_bill_passes.html

For those following the story of concussion-head injury policy in the NFL, I found a great compilation of some of the media coverage of the issues.  To view, please click on the following link:  http://www.newsy.com/videos/nfl_s_new_concussion_approach

The National Football League has finally implemented new policies for dealing with concussions and head injury.  The new policy requires players who exhibit any significant sign of concussion to be removed from a game or practice and be barred from returning the same day.  Previous changes also include requiring an independent expert to certify that it was safe for the player to return. I am glad that progress is being made, but my fear is that the machismo culture of the NFL  will hinder other progressive measures that should be taken to protect our athletes.  For a full link to the article, pelase click on the following link:  http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/03/sports/football/03concussion.html?hp

Despite the NFL touting a new approach to concussion and head injury, business is normal around the league.  Quarterbacks suffer massive blows to the head, yet their teams claim they are “ready to go’ within a week.  Studies continue to emerge showing the long term ramifications of brain damage caused by repetitive blows to the head, and yet nothing has changed for the athletes on the ground.  Part of the NFL’s strategy is to require independent neurologists to work with teams in evaluating concussions and head injury, but the neurologists I know would not let these players back on the field who have suffered injuries of this magnitude.  In working with my brain injury clients, I have personally seen the effects of so-called “mild brain injury” (concussions), and I cringe when I see the massive hits that football players take every weekend.  Thankfully the NFL is  finally admitting the obvious, but owners, coaches, and all NFL personnel need to be held accountable for turning talk into action, and ultimately protecting their athletes.  For the full story, please click on the following link:  http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/ann_killion/11/24/concussions/?cnn=yes