I've talked before about being involved in the concussion study, having been knocked out a fair few times and having lasting effects from it. whats been said on the issue is right and there are set lengths of time players are required to sit out after testing proves concussion now. there isn't some argument about professional doctors getting players back on the field, its an actual rule for them to follow.
i will say however, the hoopla surrounding TPN on this thread is borderline histeria. Last night was bad, but to suggest that the doctors put him at risk or it was down to his technique is a bit over the top. He doesn't need to give the game away, the doctors arnt in a dimly lit laboratory coming up with ways of punishing him and getting him back on his feet. Unless you were part of the treatment you have no idea if he had any lasting effects whatsoever or if he was fit to continue.
WJ the first time I read this I let it go through to the keeper but now I think that I need to respond.
As to the rules - I appreciate that there are rules, but I think what is being questioned here is if said rules are enough. I can not make a call as to if the rules are being followed or not as I am not completely accross what they are. I would hope that they are, but if that is the case I am back to the question of if they are enough. When I was involved I was working under the ambulance service rules so a) I would have had a bit more training and experience then your average trainer/strapped/manager; b) having seen the results both short and long term of head injuries I have always been cautious; and c) I had a whole other set of rules and regulations and code of conduct to follow. Yes I realise that I will not have had the training that the doctors who are working at Super Rugby level have had, but I then come back to whether or not the rules are sufficient and whether or not the pressure these medicos are getting from other quarters is influencing their judgement, even subconsciously.
With regards to TPN on Saturday night. I could tell from his actions and behaviour sitting in my lounge room 1000's of km's away that he had concussion and should have been removed from the field. And a lot of others could see that there was something up. The player's perspective, at least, needs to be removed from the decision. Why - they are concussed and will not know what is going on, willl not be able to make sound and reasonable decisions, and have a vested interest in continuing to play. My concern is that he was 'assessed' by a medical professional on the field and allowed to continue to play. Yes this could (should) have been because he was fit to play, however I question anyones ability to make such an assessment in a few minutes on the field with pressure from coaches, players and officals for the game to continue. Remove them from the field for 10-15 mins in a blood bin type of situation to allow a couple of reasonably calm sets of observations to be done and then make the decision. The results of a head injury can actually be delayed. I am sure we have all hear stories about players getting a head knock, playing on and then collapsing at the after game drinks. Well I have had to treat them and it is not pretty.
AngrySeahorse mentioned players taking swings at trainers as they were being removed from the field. Yep it does happen. My defensive mechanism was that finely tuned (or highly strung which ever way you want to think about it) I just used to sit them on their arse. Once I started to do the job a lot I used to talk to both teams before each game and the players knew my rules - You lost conciousness you were off, and if I could sit you on your arse without a problem you were off (and I had various ways of putting them down that ment they had to come off). As I said before I hope that all the guys I did yank appreciate that it was for their own good.
You will note that I did not mention the spectators here. That is deliberate as I am sure (hope) that most of us are intelligent enough to realise that an injured player should be given the best medical treatment possible and if that means holding up a game for a short period then so be it. Yes I was not there on Saturday night and did not assess TPN or Jono Jenkins, but surely even you WJ would realise that there was an issue and perhaps, just perhaps, it was not handled as well as it should have been.
As you are all aware this is one of my soapboxes so I am sorry if I am boring the shit out of you all.
