Credit Hours: 1

Course Description

This course explores the critical intersection of medicine and law within the field of sports medicine. Designed for healthcare professionals operating in the unique athletic environment, the course provides a foundational overview of the unique legal and ethical challenges faced when treating athletes at all levels of competition.

Key topics include the principles of informed consent, especially in high-pressure athletic environments; liability and negligence, with an emphasis on standard of care and common pitfalls; and effective risk management strategies to minimize injury and legal exposure. Special attention is given to youth sports, return-to-play protocols, and the complexities surrounding confidentiality and conflicts of interest.

Practice Gap

While many healthcare professionals working in sports medicine are well-trained in clinical diagnosis and injury management, there is a significant gap in understanding and applying medical-legal principles specific to the sports context. This includes areas such as informed consent under pressure, managing liability and negligence claims, navigating ethical dilemmas like conflicts of interest, and implementing effective risk management protocols.

Practitioners often face situations where clinical decisions intersect with legal and ethical responsibilities—such as clearing an athlete for return to play or maintaining confidentiality in high-stakes team environments—without adequate training in the legal implications. This gap in knowledge and preparedness can lead to compromised athlete safety, increased legal exposure, and ethical conflicts.

This course addresses that gap by equipping sports medicine professionals with the legal literacy, risk awareness, and ethical decision-making tools needed to practice safely and responsibly in today’s sports environments.

Measurable Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Identify key legal concepts relevant to sports medicine, including informed consent, negligence, liability, and risk management.
2. Describe the legal and ethical responsibilities of sports medicine professionals, particularly in high-risk and high-pressure environments.
3. Apply the principles of informed consent when treating athletes, including youth athletes and those under competitive pressure.
4. Analyze scenarios involving potential legal liability, such as premature return-to-play decisions or failure to diagnose injuries like concussions.
5. Evaluate the ethical implications of dual loyalty and conflicts of interest in professional and collegiate sports settings.
6. Develop a risk management plan that incorporates injury prevention strategies, proper documentation, and legal safeguards.