Michigan Representative announces investigation into concussions

“Concussion” the movie will be released on Friday, bringing attention to the plight of Bennet Omalu, who discovered chronic traumatic encephalopathy, and while it may not expose the entire truth of how the NFL has handled concussions (Bryant Gumbel mused that if it were truly damaging, the league would be suing Sony Pictures, and it isn’t), it will likely make audiences think about the effect the sport is having on its players.

More potentially damaging news for the league came on Tuesday, with U.S. Representative Fred Upton (R-Michigan), the chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, announcing that the committee will begin a “broad review” of concussions and their implications in 2016.

In a statement, Upton said:

“We often hear about concussions in the context of service members and athletes, but this problem goes well beyond the battlefield and the gridiron. It’s a matter of public health as these injuries are prevalent in all ages and across the population. Unfortunately, there’s a lot we don’t know about head trauma – how it effects different subsets of the population, the short and long term effects, and other details critical to developing effective diagnostics and treatments.

“Thanks to increased public awareness in recent years, there are promising efforts underway to increase our understanding of these injuries but we still have a long way to go. Our goal is to bring together experts from across the medical spectrum to increase collaboration, have a thoughtful dialogue, and move the conversation forward. We have an opportunity to improve our understanding and better care for our kids and families.”

The review will be conducted by the Oversight and Investigations, Health and Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittees. Members and staff will work with medical experts, including individuals from the National Institutes of Health, as well as the U.S. military, professional and college sports, and others, “to increase collaboration and advance the understanding of concussions.”

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