ABSTRACT
With the growth of participation in sports, the role of the sports medicine team and the legal aspects of sports medicine have also grown in importance. Although the legal aspects of sports medicine are constantly evolving, having a foundation of the basic legal principles involved in providing medical care to athletes of all ages is vital to the successful practice of sports medicine. That knowledge can also help promote the safety of the athlete and reduce fears about liability that otherwise may prevent some physicians from engaging in the practice of sports medicine. This chapter is designed to familiarize physicians and other primary care providers with basic legal issues affecting sports medicine including discussion of roles of the team physician, preparticipation physical evaluations (PPEs), return-to-play (RTP) decisions, liability, malpractice, insurance, contracts, traveling with the team, and privacy and con-dentiality regulations (Table 5.1). The information provided in this chapter is not a substitute for advice from legal counsel.
