Head injury bill in Albany's not sufficient

As chairman of the Traumatic Brain Injury Services Coordinating Council and immediate past president of the Brain Injury Association of New York State, both private advocacy organizations, I am very disappointed in the compromises reached to pass some sort of concussion management legislation in New York ["Head injury rules pass Senate," News, June 14].

The bill, which has also passed the Assembly, fails to incorporate the important recommendations of the council concerning mandatory baseline testing; fails to mandate a consistent concussion management program; fails to protect athletes involved in organized sports outside the school setting; fails to provide uniform and meaningful protection for children throughout the state; fails to address the need for medical insurance coverage for those who are injured; and fails to address penalties for the failure to comply.

I'm fearful that the minimum protections in the act will become the de facto standard and allow further unnecessary preventable injuries. The arbitrary 24-hour period set before a child can return to play provides a false sense of protection. This is because proper testing is not mandated and there is no requirement that the medical clearance come from a doctor with experience in treating head injuries. The minium absence should be a week.

New York could and should do more to protect its youth.

Michael V. Kaplen, Pleasantville