Ethics in the locker room: the challenges for team physicians

Occup Med. 2002 Oct-Dec;17(4):693-700.

Abstract

Team physicians act as occupational physicians in many traditional ways. However, they face unique ethical challenges when caring for athletes. Sports physicians must be cognizant of special aspects of the doctor-patient relationship, as well as issues related to informed consent, autonomy, and confidentiality. Conflicts of interest with players themselves, as well as with team management, are common. Team physicians must act professionally and maintain ethical principles, even in the high-pressure, high-performance world of athletics.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Athletic Injuries / therapy
  • Clinical Competence* / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Confidentiality
  • Conflict of Interest
  • Ethics, Medical*
  • Humans
  • Informed Consent
  • Occupational Diseases / therapy
  • Occupational Medicine / ethics*
  • Occupational Medicine / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Paternalism
  • Personal Autonomy
  • Physician-Patient Relations / ethics*
  • Sports Medicine / ethics*
  • Sports Medicine / legislation & jurisprudence
  • United States