Ethics in the locker room: the challenges for team physicians

Abstract

Team physicians act as occupational physicians in many traditional ways. However, they face unique ethical challenges when caring for athletes. Sports physicians must be cognizant of special aspects of the doctor-patient relationship, as well as issues related to informed consent, autonomy, and confidentiality. Conflicts of interest with players themselves, as well as with team management, are common. Team physicians must act professionally and maintain ethical principles, even in the high-pressure, high-performance world of athletics.