CCSP - Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician Medical and Legal Aspects Questions and Answers

Question 1

A CCSP is the designated provider for a high school football team.
During a game, an athlete sustains a forceful tackle and is slow to get up.
The CCSP performs a brief sideline assessment, fails to recognize subtle signs of a concussion, and allows the athlete to return to play.
The athlete later collapses and is diagnosed with a significant brain injury.
In a malpractice claim, which of the following elements would be the MOST critical for the plaintiff to prove?

Accepted Answer

A breach of the established standard of care occurred.

Answer

The athlete's parents had signed a liability waiver.

Answer

The CCSP did not have a written contract with the school.

Answer

The injury was caused by an inherent risk of the sport.

Question 2

Which of the following is an essential component of legally valid informed consent prior to performing a non-emergency manual therapy procedure on a collegiate athlete?

Accepted Answer

A discussion of the procedure's risks, benefits, and reasonable alternatives.

Answer

A guarantee that the procedure will resolve the athlete's symptoms.

Answer

A signature from the head coach authorizing the treatment.

Answer

A detailed disclosure of the provider's malpractice insurance coverage.

Question 3

A 16-year-old soccer player presents to your field-side tent with a non-deformed, but very painful, wrist injury after a fall. Her parents are at the venue but are not immediately with her, and you do not have a pre-signed consent-to-treat form. The injury does not appear to be life-threatening. What is the most legally prudent immediate course of action?

Accepted Answer

Provide basic first aid such as ice and stabilization, and have a staff member locate the parents for consent for further evaluation.

Answer

Perform a specific orthopedic assessment and adjust the wrist to provide relief.

Answer

Have the athlete's coach provide verbal consent for treatment.

Answer

Refuse to provide any care until the parents sign a consent form.

Question 4

From a medico-legal perspective, what is the primary purpose of maintaining accurate, detailed, and contemporaneous medical records for every athlete encounter?

Accepted Answer

To serve as a legal record of the care provided and the provider's clinical decision-making.

Answer

To track athlete performance metrics for the coaching staff.

Answer

To simplify the process of billing insurance companies for services rendered.

Answer

To create a database for future research on sports injuries.

Question 5

A CCSP is working at a multi-sport event. A marathon runner finishes the race and presents with confusion, a rapid pulse, and hot, dry skin. The CCSP suspects exertional heat stroke. Which action BEST fulfills the CCSP's medico-legal 'duty to act'?

Accepted Answer

Immediately initiating aggressive, whole-body cold water immersion and activating the Emergency Action Plan (EAP).

Answer

Advising the athlete to drink plenty of water and rest in the shade.

Answer

Performing a chiropractic adjustment to the cervical spine to improve neurological function.

Answer

Documenting the findings and referring the athlete to their primary care physician the next day.

Question 6

A CCSP is acting as the official, compensated team chiropractor for a professional soccer team. During a game, an opposing player is injured, and no other medical staff are immediately available. The CCSP rushes onto the field to provide emergency care. How would Good Samaritan laws most likely apply to the CCSP's actions in this situation?

Accepted Answer

The laws would not apply because the CCSP has a pre-existing duty to act in their professional capacity at the event.

Answer

The laws would apply, fully protecting the CCSP from liability for any care rendered.

Answer

The laws would not apply to the CCSP's own players, but would apply to the opposing player.

Answer

The laws would apply only if the CCSP provides care that is outside the typical scope of chiropractic practice.