Club doctors fear success is bigger priority than safety
Canberra Raiders doctor Wilson Lo has confirmed there is simmering discontent within the NRL medical ranks, admitting some of his colleagues feel sidelined as some clubs put on-field success ahead of player welfare.
In the wake of a mass exodus of NRL doctors, Lo said supplements programs being introduced without doctors' knowledge and exploitation of concussion guidelines were two areas of concern.
Club doctors discussed a range of issues at a meeting in Sydney on grand final day, and plan to submit a proposal of recommendations to the NRL. A number of club doctors quit their posts at the end of the season, including high-profile Sydney Roosters medico John Orchard.
Lo stressed he was more than happy with the game-day processes and supplement program of the Raiders, which he described as one of the competition's most reserved.
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But he said the meeting highlighted the concerns of some colleagues of the threat of litigation as clubs increasingly tread a fine line to gain an on-field edge. ''Obviously there's been a lot of resignations this year, there's a general feeling a lot of people aren't happy with clubs because they're making decisions behind doctors' backs, whether it be concussion or supplements,'' Lo said.
''I'm happy because it's not my situation at our club, but I could see how it could easily happen at other clubs. There's a general feeling they're listening to the doctors less and less, and just feel the doctors are a necessary evil.''
The main change doctors want is the introduction of an 18th man for matches to replace a player who has suffered concussion.
They also want clearance for medicos to enter the field of play at any stage. At the moment, they need permission from the game-day ''orange shirt'', a club's designated medical official, to give them the green light.
Lo fears some orange shirts at other clubs aren't suitably qualified, and are being exploited by coaches to deliver messages to players.
He believes the no-tolerance policy for concussion introduced about three years ago isn't working, as clubs are more hesitant to take a concussed player off and lose him for the rest of the match.
Orchard had long campaigned for an 18th man, and Lo feels it would convince clubs to take a tougher stance. Under the initiative, a player would be examined thoroughly for 20 minutes, and if cleared of concussion would return to the field.
''The general feeling at some clubs is they're employing an orange shirt and putting him out there to deliver messages from coaches, which isn't their role,'' he said. ''To be an orange shirt you only have to be a level-two sports trainer, we want to propose they're a doctor, physio or paramedic.
''Another thing we agreed with is the doctor should be allowed to enter the field at any stage. In some other clubs they're really upset about it. The orange shirt is basically an ex-player or has an allegiance to the coach and not the player welfare.''
Lo acknowledged the potential for coaches to exploit the 18th man rule, but believes it is a necessary change. He said the doctors would be happy if the NRL were to employ independent doctors for potential concussion cases at games, to avoid any stigma of clubs putting players at risk.
''They're asking us to treat it more seriously and we all agree with that, but certainly some doctors feel sidelined because he's the only one who agrees with that notion,'' Lo said. ''They say the coach can exploit the rule, but if you're serious about concussion you just put up with it.''
The Raiders were incensed when their approach to concussion was questioned by the NRL after forward Joe Picker returned to the field late in Canberra's round eight win in Melbourne after copping an early head knock.
Lo, who also works with basketball's Canberra Capitals and part-time with AFL's GWS Giants, was unhappy his practices were put under the spotlight without the knowledge of the NRL's chief medical officer Ron Muratore.
''I brought him off and watched him for 50 minutes, even if you have the mildest concussion you have to get some type of symptoms coming up,'' Lo said.
''There wasn't one instant where the team pressured me saying he needs to go back on, the assistant coach actually questioned me if I was sure. They [NRL] sent a letter to the club asking me to provide what I did and that's fine, but they didn't even tell the chief medical officer. There was no pressure at all from the club, I was comfortable with my decision.''
