CCSP Medical and Legal Aspects 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A CCSP is asked to sign off on a pre-participation physical examination (PPE) for a high school athlete. Which finding would be the STRONGEST absolute contraindication to contact sports participation?
- Mild scoliosis of 10 degrees
- Atlantoaxial instability with neurological symptoms (Correct answer)
- A healed clavicle fracture from two years ago
- Mild exercise-induced asthma well controlled with an inhaler
Correct answer: Atlantoaxial instability with neurological symptoms
Atlantoaxial instability with neurological symptoms represents a significant risk of catastrophic spinal cord injury and is an absolute contraindication to contact sports.
Question 2: When a CCSP practices under a 'Good Samaritan' law at an athletic event, which protection does this law MOST commonly provide?
- Full immunity from all malpractice claims regardless of conduct
- Protection from civil liability for emergency care rendered in good faith outside of professional duties (Correct answer)
- Authorization to perform procedures beyond their normal scope of practice
- Exemption from carrying malpractice insurance at the event
Correct answer: Protection from civil liability for emergency care rendered in good faith outside of professional duties
Good Samaritan laws typically protect healthcare providers from civil liability when rendering emergency care in good faith, voluntarily, and without expectation of compensation.
Question 3: An athlete's electronic health record (EHR) is inadvertently accessed by an unauthorized staff member. Which federal law governs the reporting obligation for this breach?
- FERPA
- The Americans with Disabilities Act
- HIPAA Breach Notification Rule (Correct answer)
- The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA)
Correct answer: HIPAA Breach Notification Rule
The HIPAA Breach Notification Rule requires covered entities to notify affected individuals, HHS, and sometimes media outlets when unsecured protected health information is breached.
Question 4: Which element of negligence requires the CCSP to have an established provider-patient relationship before a legal duty of care is owed?
- Proximate cause
- Breach
- Duty (Correct answer)
- Damages
Correct answer: Duty
The element of 'duty' in negligence law requires that a provider-patient relationship exist, establishing a legal obligation for the clinician to provide appropriate care.
Question 5: A CCSP working at a marathon event treats a runner who then collapses and sustains further injury. To prevail in a malpractice claim, the plaintiff must prove all four elements of negligence EXCEPT:
- That a duty of care existed
- That the chiropractor intended to cause harm (Correct answer)
- That the standard of care was breached
- That the breach caused quantifiable damages
Correct answer: That the chiropractor intended to cause harm
Negligence does not require proof of intent to harm; the four elements are duty, breach, causation, and damages — intent is an element of intentional torts, not negligence.
Question 6: What is the primary legal risk of a CCSP failing to document sideline evaluation findings in a timely manner?
- The athlete may file a complaint with the licensing board for poor communication
- Late or missing documentation weakens the CCSP's defense in potential malpractice litigation (Correct answer)
- The team organization may terminate the contract for policy non-compliance
- The findings will be inadmissible in any subsequent medical evaluation
Correct answer: Late or missing documentation weakens the CCSP's defense in potential malpractice litigation
Timely, thorough documentation is critical because incomplete or late records weaken the provider's ability to demonstrate that appropriate care was delivered.
Question 7: Which regulatory body is responsible for licensing and disciplining chiropractors, including those with CCSP certification, in the United States?
- The American Chiropractic Association (ACA)
- The Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards (FCLB)
- Each individual state's chiropractic licensing board (Correct answer)
- The National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE)
Correct answer: Each individual state's chiropractic licensing board
Chiropractic licensure and discipline in the US is governed at the state level by each state's chiropractic licensing board, not by national organizations.
CCSP Medical and Legal Aspects 5
A CCSP is asked to sign off on a pre-participation physical examination (PPE) for a high school athlete.
Which finding would be the STRONGEST absolute contraindication to contact sports participation?