Former College Football Player Files Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Against School

A former University of California at Berkeley football player has filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against the school. The suit alleges that the Bernard Hicks, who played for the Cal Golden Bears from 2004 to 2008, sustained numerous concussions in games and practices. The medical malpractice lawsuit also claims that the school failed to inform Mr. Hicks about the dangers involved in suffering multiple concussions and head injuries during his playing days at the school.

Details of the Medical Malpractice Lawsuit

Mr. Hicks’ medical malpractice lawsuit also alleges that the school did not take adequate precautions to prevent Mr. Hicks and his teammates from suffering from head injuries that could lead to concussions. Mr. Hicks’ suit also claims that the team’s coaches, doctors, and trainers failed to inform players about the long-term brain damage that victims of multiple concussions can encounter later in life. The medical malpractice lawsuit claims that football team staff members ignored warning signs of concussions and brain damage and encouraged players with such injuries to continue playing and practicing as normal.

Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Alleges Brain Damage

The medical malpractice lawsuit claims that Mr. Hicks suffers from symptoms associated with multiple concussions. These symptoms include short-term memory loss, blurred vision, and dizziness. The suit also alleges that Mr. Hicks has experienced severe emotional changes attributable to his concussions, including depression and thoughts of suicide. The medical malpractice lawsuit cites team personnel at the time, including head trainer Ryan Cobb, team doctor Cindy Chang, and head coach Jeff Tedford, as encouraging Mr. Hicks to play on despite his injuries.

University Responds to Medical Malpractice Lawsuit

Although officials with the University of California did not directly respond to the allegations laid out in the medical malpractice lawsuit, the school released a statement regarding its sports medicine practices. The statement read that the school follows the “best and most up-to-date clinical guidelines” and that its level of care “meets or exceeds the standards in collegiate and national sports medicine.” Mr. Hicks’ medical malpractice lawsuit claims that the school ignored these guidelines and continued to put him at risk for concussions.

Source: Daily Californian

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