AMA Code Says
Jul 2014

AMA Code of Medical Ethics’ Opinion on Treating Athletes

AMA Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs
Virtual Mentor. 2014;16(7):542. doi: 10.1001/virtualmentor.2014.16.7.coet1-1407.

Opinion 3.06 - Sports Medicine

Physicians should assist athletes to make informed decisions about their participation in amateur and professional contact sports which entail risks of bodily injury.

The professional responsibility of the physician who serves in a medical capacity at an athletic contest or sporting event is to protect the health and safety of the contestants. The desire of spectators, promoters of the event, or even the injured athlete that he or she not be removed from the contest should not be controlling. The physician’s judgment should be governed only by medical considerations.

Citation

Virtual Mentor. 2014;16(7):542.

DOI

10.1001/virtualmentor.2014.16.7.coet1-1407.

The viewpoints expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the AMA.