Professor and Faculty Fellow Betsy Grey was recently interviewed by Bloomberg Law about the potential impact of a new study on injuries causing CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy). The study, out of Boston University’s CTE Center, identified evidence that even relatively minor repetitive hits to the head may lead to degenerative brain disorders, including CTE.
This study may change how we see and manage traumatic impacts in sports. “[This] will reconceive what we mean by injury and accordingly, duty, in the sports context,” said Grey, speaking to Bloomberg Law. If confirmed, this study could mean that teams, players, parents, and the courts have to be concerned about all hits to the head, not just those strong enough to leave a player concussed.
If subconcussive injuries are the true problem, then we will also need to rethink what we mean by ‘harm,’ which may include claims for latent injuries, the fear of developing CTE, and medical monitoring.
– Betsy Grey
Read more about the study and Grey’s thoughts on safety, the future of youth sports, and league liability: CTE Study Blows Whistle on Concussions, Redefines Risks.
Grey has long worked at the intersection of neuroscience, CTE, and the law. She and the Center for Law, Science & Innovation (LSI) hosted a conference on safeguarding brains and the concussion epidemic in sports back in 2015. She has commented on the potential use of CTE biomarkers in cases like the late NFL star and convicted murderer Aaron Hernandez, who was shown to have severe CTE following his suicide. And Grey and LSI recently hosted a conference on the Aging Brain, which focused on medical and legal issues around aging and degenerative brain diseases.