Geappen's dice with death
September 3rd 2010 09:11
Sourced: The Mercury - The Voice of Tasmania
By Brett Stubbs
LEADING sports doctor Peter Larkins has urged Clarence playing-coach Brett Geappen not to play in tomorrow's second semi-final against Launceston, saying he risked paralysis or even death.
Geappen, 29, was forced into early retirement on doctors' advice in early June after suffering a bulging disc in his neck just six months after having an operation to fuse vertebrae.
But he now wants to make a comeback for tomorrow's Tasmanian State League semi-final against Launceston, at Bellerive Oval.
However, Dr Larkins issued a strong warning against any comeback.
"I'm talking worst case scenario, death should be at the top of the list," Dr Larkins said yesterday.
"To have a second disc rupture, because he's already got a bulging disc so we know it is not a normal disc, the potential is there for compressing his spinal cord."
Clarence finished on top of the ladder with just one loss for the season and is hot favourite to defend its TSL premiership.
"My advice is, the risk is low but the risk is definitely there," Dr Larkins said.
"The rolling of the dice, as he calls it, if the dice rolls the wrong way his medical consequences are quite catastrophic.
"I can't see why a father of a seven-year-old [Jemima] and a three-year-old [Penelope] who doesn't need to play would be wanting to roll the dice.
"We are not talking about a guy who has got half a hamstring like [Richmond's] Ben Cousins last week and he rolled the dice when he played or a guy who has got a shoulder that dislocates and he rolls the dice this weekend.
"We are talking about a guy who is potentially risking life in a wheelchair and my advice would be, why are you playing?"
The doctor said that if Geappen was to suffer a major injury during the game, the Roos star forward and former Devils captain would most likely be stuck covering the medical costs himself.
"The insurers for the competition are going to pay for a paraplegic or quadriplegic incident if it happens in the usual circumstances," he said.
"But they would argue that they should not be exposed to the risks of a legal claim based on the fact the player is entering the match with a condition which is putting them in a much higher [claim] risk."
Dr Larkins also suggested the Tasmanian State League would not be liable for any medical costs arising from a serious injury to Geappen.
"I would have thought the league, on advice from their legal advisers and their insurers, have a responsibility to protect themselves against a potential claim from the Clarence Footy Club," he said.
"We are talking about a massive potential cost.
"And he might be responsible for his own medical bills."
By Brett Stubbs
LEADING sports doctor Peter Larkins has urged Clarence playing-coach Brett Geappen not to play in tomorrow's second semi-final against Launceston, saying he risked paralysis or even death.
Geappen, 29, was forced into early retirement on doctors' advice in early June after suffering a bulging disc in his neck just six months after having an operation to fuse vertebrae.
But he now wants to make a comeback for tomorrow's Tasmanian State League semi-final against Launceston, at Bellerive Oval.
However, Dr Larkins issued a strong warning against any comeback.
"I'm talking worst case scenario, death should be at the top of the list," Dr Larkins said yesterday.
"To have a second disc rupture, because he's already got a bulging disc so we know it is not a normal disc, the potential is there for compressing his spinal cord."
Clarence finished on top of the ladder with just one loss for the season and is hot favourite to defend its TSL premiership.
"My advice is, the risk is low but the risk is definitely there," Dr Larkins said.
"The rolling of the dice, as he calls it, if the dice rolls the wrong way his medical consequences are quite catastrophic.
"I can't see why a father of a seven-year-old [Jemima] and a three-year-old [Penelope] who doesn't need to play would be wanting to roll the dice.
"We are not talking about a guy who has got half a hamstring like [Richmond's] Ben Cousins last week and he rolled the dice when he played or a guy who has got a shoulder that dislocates and he rolls the dice this weekend.
"We are talking about a guy who is potentially risking life in a wheelchair and my advice would be, why are you playing?"
The doctor said that if Geappen was to suffer a major injury during the game, the Roos star forward and former Devils captain would most likely be stuck covering the medical costs himself.
"The insurers for the competition are going to pay for a paraplegic or quadriplegic incident if it happens in the usual circumstances," he said.
"But they would argue that they should not be exposed to the risks of a legal claim based on the fact the player is entering the match with a condition which is putting them in a much higher [claim] risk."
Dr Larkins also suggested the Tasmanian State League would not be liable for any medical costs arising from a serious injury to Geappen.
"I would have thought the league, on advice from their legal advisers and their insurers, have a responsibility to protect themselves against a potential claim from the Clarence Footy Club," he said.
"We are talking about a massive potential cost.
"And he might be responsible for his own medical bills."
| 46 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
