Most teenagers think they’re invincible, and that goes double for talented teenage athletes. They’re young, immortal, at the top of their game, the envy of their friends.
So when news hits that an apparently healthy, high school or college athlete has dropped dead in the midst of playing his or her favorite sport, millions of parents get understandably anxious.
The uppermost question becomes: Should my child be screened before participating in sports? What tests are needed? And how can we be sure that he or she is truly healthy enough to compete?
Everyone agrees that a medical checkup before participating in sports is crucial. But the agreement seems to stop there. At the core of the conflict over further testing is how extensively young athletes’ hearts should be tested before they’re cleared for athletic participation.
