NFHS Professional Standards & Ethics 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An athletic trainer suspects a football player has a concussion but the head coach insists the player is fine and wants him back on the field. What is the athletic trainer's ethical obligation?
- Defer to the head coach's judgment since coaches outrank athletic trainers
- Remove the player from play regardless of the coach's opinion (Correct answer)
- Allow the player to return but document the coach's decision
- Ask the player if he feels ready to return
Correct answer: Remove the player from play regardless of the coach's opinion
Athletic trainers have an independent ethical and legal duty to protect athlete safety, which supersedes coaching authority when concussion is suspected.
Question 2: Which principle best describes the 'duty of care' that coaches owe to student-athletes regarding concussion management?
- Coaches must provide the same standard of care as licensed physicians
- Coaches must act as a reasonably prudent professional in recognizing and responding to concussion signs (Correct answer)
- Coaches are only responsible for on-field injuries, not sideline assessments
- Duty of care applies only to coaches who hold first-aid certifications
Correct answer: Coaches must act as a reasonably prudent professional in recognizing and responding to concussion signs
Duty of care requires coaches to act as a reasonably prudent professional would in similar circumstances, which includes following concussion protocols.
Question 3: A school's concussion protocol requires written parental permission before an athlete returns to play. A parent verbally tells the coach it's okay. What should the coach do?
- Accept verbal consent and allow return to play
- Require written documentation per the established protocol (Correct answer)
- Consult the school principal for a final decision
- Allow return to play only during non-contact practice
Correct answer: Require written documentation per the established protocol
Established written protocols must be followed as documented; verbal permissions do not satisfy the requirement for written documentation.
Question 4: What ethical conflict arises when an athletic trainer employed by a school district is pressured to clear athletes quickly to maintain team competitiveness?
- Conflict between fiduciary duty to the employer and professional duty to athlete welfare (Correct answer)
- Conflict between NFHS rules and state law requirements
- Conflict between the athlete's wishes and the physician's orders
- Conflict between insurance requirements and medical best practices
Correct answer: Conflict between fiduciary duty to the employer and professional duty to athlete welfare
Athletic trainers face a conflict when employer pressure to return athletes to play contradicts their professional obligation to prioritize athlete health and safety.
Question 5: Under professional standards, when should a school official update parents about an athlete's concussion status?
- Only when the athlete is cleared to return to full activity
- Promptly after the suspected concussion occurs and at each stage of the RTP process (Correct answer)
- Only if the athlete's symptoms last more than 48 hours
- At the next scheduled parent-teacher conference
Correct answer: Promptly after the suspected concussion occurs and at each stage of the RTP process
Timely communication with parents at each step of the concussion management process is a professional and ethical obligation.
Question 6: A licensed physician clears an athlete to return to play, but the school's protocol requires clearance from a physician with concussion management training. Which takes precedence?
- The physician's clearance always overrides school policy
- The school's protocol requiring specialized clearance takes precedence (Correct answer)
- State law determines which standard applies
- The athletic director makes the final call
Correct answer: The school's protocol requiring specialized clearance takes precedence
School and state concussion protocols may require clearance from physicians with specific concussion training, and those requirements must be met.
Question 7: Which action best reflects the ethical standard of 'non-maleficence' in concussion management?
- Maximizing an athlete's playing time within safe limits
- Avoiding actions that could cause additional harm to a concussed athlete (Correct answer)
- Providing the best available medical treatment regardless of cost
- Ensuring athletes are informed of all treatment options
Correct answer: Avoiding actions that could cause additional harm to a concussed athlete
Non-maleficence means 'do no harm,' which in concussion management means avoiding decisions that could worsen the athlete's condition.
NFHS Professional Standards & Ethics 2
An athletic trainer suspects a football player has a concussion but the head coach insists the player is fine and wants him back on the field.
What is the athletic trainer's ethical obligation?