RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Sports medicine, confidentiality and the press
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 40
OP 43
DO 10.1136/bjsports-2011-090439
VO 47
IS 1
A1 Bill Ribbans
A1 Hannah Ribbans
A1 Craig Nightingale
A1 Michael McNamee
YR 2013
UL http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/47/1/40.abstract
AB Objective To analyse athletes' medical information disclosed by English newspapers. Methods Ten daily national newspapers, nine Sunday newspapers and one local newspaper were studied during March 2010 for media releases relating to the medical conditions of athletes. Results Three hundred and thirty-three newspapers were reviewed revealing 5640 specific bulletins regarding athletes' health. Daily national newspapers averaged 18.72 daily bulletins, Sunday newspapers 11.86 and one local newspaper reviewed 6.07. The frequency with which various sports had their athletes' medical details published was analysed. Football accounted for 83.78%. The information source in 77.32% of articles is not clearly stated. The patient was only responsible in 6.10% of cases, where the source of attribution is clear. Conclusions English newspapers are replete with athletes' medical details, with football dominant. A significant risk to clinicians' professional status exists if they collude to release the un-consented confidential medical information to those with no direct involvement in athletes' medical care. Athletes' education as to their rights as patients and to sports medicine professionals as to their obligations are urgently required.