“The medical evidence does not support mass screen- ing. Currently, organizations … recommend a thorough physical exam and a medical history of the student performed by a licensed medical doctor as the most
efficient method in identifying potential health issues.”
sion. The bill’s authors include Reps. Wayne Smith (R-Baytown), Sylvester Turner (D-Houston), Eddie Lucio III (D-Brownsville), Dan Huberty (R-Houston), and J.D. Sheffield, DO (R-Gatesville). The bill would have required students whom the Uni- versity Interscholastic League (UIL) requires to receive a physical before athletic participation to have an elec- trocardiogram (EKG) before their first and third years of participation. It also would have required UIL to adopt rules for granting a waiver from the EKG requirement if a student’s par- ent requests one. The bill is similar to 2013’s House Bill 1319, which never received a vote in the House Public Education Committee. HB 767 passed the House in April
by an 82-62 vote. The Senate Educa- tion Committee conducted a hearing on the bill on May 19 but never took any action on it, so the bill did not be- come law. Like the supporters of HB 767, the
Texas Medical Association wants to follow the best course of action to prevent more young people from fall- ing victim to SCA. That’s why, based on the American Heart Association’s (AHA’s) assessment of the best avail- able scientific evidence, TMA sup- ported a full medical history and pre- participation physical examination of student athletes as the most appropri- ate way to prescreen athletes for po- tential cardiac problems. TMA says the benefit of mass EKG
screenings for young athletes lacks scientific evidence. In March, Angela Hilger, MD, then-
chair of the TMA Committee on Child and Adolescent Health, and Jason Terk, MD, president of the Texas Pedi- atric Society (TPS), submitted written testimony to the House Public Educa- tion Committee. Drs. Hilger and Terk wrote that
while EKGs could enhance screening for cardiac disorders, there was a lack of scientific evidence to demonstrate the wisdom of performing EKGs “on a broad scale” around the country.
48 TEXAS MEDICINE July 2015
“The medical evidence does not support mass screening,” Drs. Hilger and Terk wrote. “Currently, organiza- tions including the American Heart Association and the American Acad- emy of Pediatrics recommend a thor- ough physical exam and a medical history of the student performed by a licensed medical doctor as the most efficient method in identifying poten- tial health issues.” The letter added TMA and TPS
want to ensure students receive phys- icals “based on the most appropriate, evidence-based strategies before im- plementing new requirements.” “We want to ensure all athletes are
examined appropriately before com- peting to decrease injuries resulting from concussion or heat illness,” the testimony states. “We respectfully re- quest your leadership in this area by funding Texas research to examine health and safety factors affecting Texas student athletes. This includes identifying ways to better track inju- ries and deaths.”
HEAD VS. HEART Before the legislature adjourned, Dr. Terk said the desire to prevent more tragedies might lead lawmakers to act on the emotions that result from such tragic events, rather than the scientific evidence. He said if HB 767 became law, it would “likely prevent very few or no deaths and lead to unnecessary costs and limitation of participation for athletes who are perfectly healthy.” Mesquite pediatrician Lisa Swan-
son, MD, chair of TMA’s Commit- tee on Child and Adolescent Health, echoes that concern. “The doctors really want to find
these kids and take care of this,” she said. “We understand why these fami- lies so badly want to have a way to find this out. It’s just [that] mandating EKGs is going to be more expensive than Texas realizes, and it isn’t going to have the effect that they want.” Dallas cardiologist Rick Snyder,
MD, a member of the TMA Board of Trustees and a recent member of the
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