Concussion in Professional Team Sports: Time for a Harmonised Approach'

Chapter 1: IntroductionChapter 1 takes the form of an overall introduction. It first sets the background of the concussioncontroversy and highlights its related public health and legal issues. It then focuses more specifically on theresearch question, scope of the research and need for harmonisation. It finally states the book, itsoriginality, significance and methodology, as well as the structure and arguments invoked.
Chapter 2: Medical ChapterChapter 2 provides a general medical overview of sports concussion, with a special emphasis on thecurrent state of medical science and the medical (treatment and management) guidelines published bymedical organisations and other related groups. Initially starting from the definition of concussion, it then examines the question of symptoms and levels of concussion, together with other related issues (such asreturn to play decisions). Difficulties related to the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of concussion arethen presented. There follows a description of the second-impact syndrome and the potential long-termeffects associated with multiple instances of concussion. The chapter ends with an outline of the future keymedical-related challenges. It shows that medical science is the starting point of the actual enquiry, butcould also potentially be part of the solution. The medical (treatment and management) guidelines are vitalto the science. Both elements could inform and contribute to the development of an internationalstandard, such as the ISC.
Chapter 3: National Case StudiesChapter 3 consists of national case studies, which describe and analyse the current regulation of sportsconcussion. It collects, examines and analyses the data obtained from the different countries and sportsselected. The national case studies focus on selected professional team sports and countries which have a history of, or potential for, CTE and litigation: United States (American football, ice hockey, football, baseball, waterpolo); Canada (Canadian football); Australia (rugby, Australian Rules football); Switzerland (football, icehockey); Brazil and England (football).
Chapter 4: General TrendsChapter 4 identifies, briefly evaluates and summarises the common themes, good practices and existingshortcomings resulting from the data collected in chapter 3. A series of tables is compiled to assist in thistask. This chapter demonstrates that the concussion controversy (CTE cases, litigation) has recently manifestedon a large scale. It then highlights some emerging good practices as well as perceived shortcomings, andthereby indirectly exposes the means by which the concussion issue could be better regulated worldwidefrom legal and public health perspectives.
Chapter 5: Harmonised ReformsIn view of these findings, chapter 5 adopts an innovative two-step approach.In the first section, this chapter seeks further guidance by examining the harmonised regulatorymechanisms that have been successfully introduced in doping, match-fixing and spectator violence, all ofwhich involve international arrangements.This chapter argues that despite its disciplinary nature and other characteristics specific to doping, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) system must address similar issues as a regulatory system forconcussion.
Chapter 6: ConclusionChapter 6 concludes that a harmonised approach across sports and legal systems would be the mostcompellin