Sports
Brain Injury Association President Challenges NFL & NFL Players Association to Public Forum on Concussions
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Jan 22, 2007 - 7:20:00 AM

Brain Injury Association President Challenges NFL & NFL Players Association to Public Forum on Concussions

(HealthNewsDigest.com).. NEW YORK, Jan. 20 -- Saying, "enough is enough," Michael V. Kaplen, Esq. president of the Brain Injury Association of New York State challenged NFL Players Association Executive Director, Gene Upshaw and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to participate in a public forum on the dangers of concussions to athletes.

Last year, Kaplen chaired a conference held at Madison Square Garden and sponsored by the Brain Injury Association on the topic of concussions in sports. Leading national medical authorities participated. Although the NFL and its medical consultant on concussions were invited to participate they declined to do so without explanation. The conference exposed the serious dangers associated with concussions in both amateur and professional sports.

In reacting to a story in today's, New York Times, In N.F.L., Violence Sells, But at What Cost?, Kaplen charged both the NFL and the NFL Players Association with being disingenuous when it comes to concussions and life long consequences stemming from these invisible injuries.

"Both the NFL and the Players Associations are glossing over the dangers of concussions and their impact on players lives," said Kaplen who is a member of the New York State Traumatic Brain Injury Services Coordinating Council.

Michael V. Kaplen, a prominent New York attorney who specializes in representing victims of concussions and traumatic brain injury, in his elected position as president of the Brain Injury Association of New York State and as past Chairperson of the Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation Group of the Association for Justice has been a frequent critic of the NFL and other professional sports organizations regarding their reckless practices in allowing players with brain injury to prematurely return to play and the poor example that this policy sets for collegiate and high school athletes. Kaplen is also a member of the New York State Traumatic Brain Injury Services Coordinating Council having been appointed by the Speaker of the New York State Assembly because of his knowledge and experience regarding traumatic brain injury and his commitment to the rights of those suffering from traumatic brain injury and injury prevention.

Kaplen authors the Brain Injury News and Information Blog, http://www.braininjury.blogs.com/

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