Sports Medicine

Ethics

When it comes to ethics in sports medicine, the same principals that apply to any other field of medicine are to be adhered to in sports medicine. A sports physician's main duties are always to put the health of the athlete above all else, never cause harm, and never prevent an athlete from exercising his or her right to make his or her own decisions. Physicians who care for athletes also have an ethical obligation to have an understanding of all aspects involved in exercise and sports. This includes the mental, physical and emotional demands of taking part in physical activities.

A problem that many physicians face when treating professional athletes are the financial consequences of being unable to play and compete when injured. These financial repercussions should always be considered of secondary importance. Along these lines, when it comes to making the decision as to whether or not an athlete is ready to return to competition, the outcome of a game and the opinions or insistence of the coaches should not influence the doctor in any way. The health of the athlete should be the only thing taken into consideration.

Furthermore, sports physicians have an obligation to stay informed about the latest medical developments and conditions so that they are able to provide the best care possible. Doctors should never support the use of training methods or substances to enhance performance that are prohibited.

Sports doctors are required to be truthful with their patients. They should always provide all of the information they have so that a patient can make an informed decision. Withholding information from a patient about his or her injury or treatment is unethical. The doctor patient relationship should be based on confidence and respect. Patient care should never be affected by religion, nationality, race, politics, sexual orientation or sex.