The U of Washington policy:
http://static.gohuskies.com/old_site/pdf/genrel/medical_hardship_policy.pdf
Medical Disqualification – General Policy
Medical Hardship Policy
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It is the responsibility and duty of every individual involved in the medical disqualification
process to conduct themselves with the highest
level of ethics, integrity, objectivity and
professionalism. Unlike the medical hardship process, the medical disqualification process
does not involve the Pac-10 Conference. Rather, decisions regarding medical disqualifications
rest exclusively with ICA. Every medical disqual
ification case shall be scrutinized closely by all
parties involved. No medical disqualification may be approved unless and until it is verified that
the criteria set forth in Bylaw 15.5.1.3 have been met (see "Relevant NCAA Legislation" section
of this policy).
As with the medical hardship process, the role of the athletic trainers and physicians in the
medical disqualification process is limited to: (1) rendering a professional opinion as to whether
the student-athlete, as a result of an injury/illness, is permanently unable to participate in
intercollegiate athletics; and (2) providing copies
of relevant medical/training room records that
have been kept in the normal course of caring for the health of safety of UW student-athletes.
In this regard, it is important to note that no athletic trainer or team physician reports to the
coaching staff of the sport to which the athletic trainer or team physician may be assigned.
Athletic trainers and team physicians are ex
pected to exercise independent professional
judgment at all times. If an athletic trainer or team physician finds himself or herself in a position
of conflict with a coach or other ICA staff mem
ber, the athletic trainer or team physician should
bring the matter to the sport administrator or other appropriate ICA administrator immediately
without fear of retribution.
The medical disqualification process is not an alternative means for a student-athlete to quit the
team yet retain his or her athletics aid when he or she is capable of continuing to participate.
Nor is it an alternative means for a coach to “run off” a student-athlete by cutting the student-
athlete from the team and allowing the student-athlete to retain his or her athletics aid even
when the student-athlete is capable of participating. In order to be eligible for a medical
disqualification, the student-athlete's injury/illness must satisfy the criteria of Bylaw 15.5.1.3 and
permanently prevent the student-athlete from continuing to participate in intercollegiate athletics.
All ICA staff members and student-athletes are strictly prohibited from attempting to exert
pressure on an athletic trainer, other ICA staff member, team physician or student-athlete to
pursue or support a medical disqualification when one is not justified under NCAA rules.
A request for a medical disqualification can occur
at any time and may be initiated formally only
by a Head Coach, the Team Physician, the Head Physician or the Head Athletic Trainer.
As soon as it becomes apparent that a student-athlete may qualify for permanent injury status,
the Head Coach, athletic trainer and physician are required to inform the sport administrator
who oversees the student-athlete's sport. It is
critical that the sport administrator be involved
and consulted at the earliest possible time (i.e., immediately after the subject of a medical
disqualification first is raised). The sport administrator should be kept informed of all
developments related to the student-athlete’s case. In addition, it is critical that all ICA staff
members work together to ensure that the involved student-athlete understands that the medical
disqualification process can be lengthy and that
no medical disqualification will be approved
until the case has been thoroughly reviewed in accordance with the procedures below
. No one
other than the sport administrator shall make any statements to the student-athlete regarding
Medical Disqualification Procedures
Medical Hardship Policy
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the chances that the medical disqualification will be approved or whether the student-athlete will
continue receiving athletics aid.
If a Head Coach, Team Physician or the Head Athletic Trainer believes that a student-athlete
qualifies for a medical disqualification, the following steps must be taken:
1. Preliminary Discussion with Sport Administrator
. The Head Coach, the Team Physician
and/or the Head Athletic Trainer shall confer
with the sport administrator who oversees
the sport to discuss the student-athlete's case. The primary purpose of this discussion
will be to make an initial determination regarding whether a medical disqualification
appears to be justified. As appropriate and necessary, the Faculty Athletics
Representative (FAR), the Team Athletic Trainer and the Senior Associate Athletic
Director for Compliance may be invited to participate in this discussion as well.
2. Documentation
. If it appears that a medical disqualification may be justified, the Team
Physician shall prepare and sign a letter describing the onset of the injury/illness and the
treatment history. The letter shall contain a statement regarding whether, in the Team
Physician’s professional medical opinion, the injury/illness will prevent the student-
athlete from participating ever again in intercollegiate athletics. The Team Physician’s
letter shall attach copies of all of the relevant medical records and training room records
related to the student-athlete’s injury/illness.
3. Approval by Head Physician
. The Team Physician shall meet with Head Physician to
review all of the documentation, including the Team Physician’s letter. Thereafter, the
Head Physician will prepare a letter to the sport administrator indicating whether he/she
concurs or disagrees with the Team Physician's conclusions and whether, in his or her
professional opinion, the student-athlete qualifies for a medical disqualification (i.e., the
Head Physician is not required to summarize the facts of the case or summarize the
student-athlete's complete medical history.). The Head Physician’s letter shall enclose
copies of the Team Physician’s letter and the supporting medical documentation. The
Head Physician shall send copies of his/her
letter to the sport administrator, the FAR
and the Senior Associate Athletic Director for Compliance.
4. Approval by FAR, Sport Administrator and Sr. Assoc. AD for Compliance
. Upon receipt
of the medical documentation (including t
he letters from the Team Physician and Head
Physician), the sport administrator, the FAR and the Senior Associate AD for
Compliance shall determine whether the request for a medical disqualification shall be
approved. As they deem necessary and appr
opriate, the sport administrator, FAR and
Senior Associate AD for Compliance may interview the student-athlete or schedule
further meetings with any member of the training, medical or coaching staff about the
medical disqualification request. After a final decision is reached, the sport administrator
shall prepare a letter/memorandum containing the decision and provide it to the Head
Coach, the Team Physician, the Head Physician, the Head Athletic Trainer, the
compliance office and the student-athlete.
5. Conditions for Continued Receipt of Athletics Aid
. As a condition for receiving
athletically-related financial aid from
the athletics department while medically
disqualified, the student-athlete must abide by the Student-Athlete Code of Conduct. In
addition, the student-athlete shall be required to work in the athletics department each
quarter in exchange for the athletically-related financial aid. The required number of
work hours shall be based on the amount of financial aid provided by the athletics
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department. If the student-athlete fails to fulfill his or her work responsibilities in a timely
manner, the athletics department may revoke the athletics aid immediately. In the
letter/memorandum approving the medical disqualification, the sport administrator shall
(i) inform the student-athlete of that he or she remains subject to the Student-Athlete
Code of Conduct; (ii) notify the student-athlete of the work requirement and the athletics
department’s right to revoke the aid if the work requirement is not satisfied; and (iii)
direct the student-athlete to contact the compliance office to obtain a work assignment.
Not what I would expect, it lacks an appeal or an outside opinion, but at least there are several parties involved in discussion and the final decision.
