RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Sudden cardiac death: mandatory exclusion of athletes at risk is a step too far
JF British Journal of Sports Medicine
JO Br J Sports Med
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine
SP 331
OP 334
DO 10.1136/bjsports-2011-090260
VO 46
IS 5
A1 Lynley Anderson
A1 Dan Exeter
A1 Lynne Bowyer
YR 2012
UL http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/46/5/331.abstract
AB Sudden cardiac death (SCD) in young athletes is a distressing event and it is not surprising that some physicians working with sports people are proposing that preventive action should be taken. There is a push for a system similar to that established in some countries, which involves screening and mandatory exclusion of those at risk. We argue that while screening can provide useful information to at-risk athletes making decisions about their future athletic careers, mandatory exclusion of athletes is paternalistic and such decisions are not rightfully within the domain of medicine.