Former PSU orthopedic consultant claims Franklin interfered with return-to-play decisions

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14SZaTGcSTF/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Dr. Scott Lynch was awarded $5.25 million in his trial which centered on his 2019 ouster as an orthopedic consultant to the Penn State football team and medical director for Penn State Athletics. The orthopedic surgeon successfully sued his employer, Penn State Health, and the then-boss who removed him from his Penn State medical roles, Dr. Kevin Black. However, both Penn State and Franklin were dropped from the Lynch's original suit over a filing deadline technicality.

The lawsuit states: "As early as 2018, on multiple occasions (Lynch), Dr. Seidenberg, and Tim Bream disclosed to defendant Robert Boland (former PSU Athletics Integrity Officer), that each had repeatedly experienced Coach Franklin's improper attempts to interfere with their autonomous authority to determine medical management and return-to-play decisions related to student-athletes."

"Here's what I think about Coach Franklin's dismissal: The health and safety of the athletes is better because of his removal and the selection of Terry Smith to succeed him," Lynch added. "Never once did Terry Smith attempt to influence our medical decisions. I wish him success."

"It has been well over a year since my jury verdict. Neither Penn State, The Big Ten, or the NCAA have done anything to protect the student-athletes."

Lynch advocates medical autonomy for the doctors and trainers who treat college athletes. He has been named vice president of health and safety for the College Football Players Association, a non-profit fraternal group actively seeking to establish chapters at various universities and claim collective bargaining rights for college football players.

Note: Parents and coaches are always going to ask what the timeline is and if there is a quicker way to heal..... insurance companies do it every second of the day. I doubt he'll speak out on the insurance companies.

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I would have to think this came up in the vetting process and I assume JMFF answered the committees questions satisfactorily.

"Here's what I think about Coach Franklin's dismissal: The health and safety of the athletes is better because of his removal and the selection of Terry Smith to succeed him," Lynch added. "Never once did Terry Smith attempt to influence our medical decisions. I wish him success."

This is one hell of a loaded quote...

"It has been well over a year since my jury verdict. Neither Penn State, The Big Ten, or the NCAA have done anything to protect the student-athletes."

Lynch advocates medical autonomy for the doctors and trainers who treat college athletes. He has been named vice president of health and safety for the College Football Players Association, a non-profit fraternal group actively seeking to establish chapters at various universities and claim collective bargaining rights for college football players.

This, on the other hand, I think every individual can agree with. But this is an NCAA issue, not a James Franklin issue.

Meh

Just another person to throw on the pile of delusion at Penn St

At a certain point that whole school and everyone around it is so fucking toxic that it's not worth paying attention to any of their individual or collective claims anymore. They are desperate to make themselves look good and pile dirt on anyone who they perceive as having wronged them.

But they'll also defend rape enabler JoePa to the grave.

"When I was growing up, Virginia Tech was a school that was kicking ass and taking names, and it's time we get back to that" - James Franklin

Child rape enabler and protector JoePa.

vice president of health and safety for the College Football Players Association, a non-profit fraternal group actively seeking to establish chapters at various universities and claim collective bargaining rights for college football players

Hmmmmmm

Pain is Temporary, Chicks Dig Scars
Glory is Forever, Let's Go Hokies!!

Yeah...I read that as trying to be the next version of NIL Agents except at the national level pulling in money from every player. Setting himself up as the President of the Players Union with obscene multi-million salary which costs will be pushed back on the schools.

Rob Peterson
VTCC
Charlie/Hotel Company
Class of 1999

Sour grapes from PSU after Franklin single-handedly dismantled their recruiting class and will be a thorn in their side for the foreseeable future.

Ahhh, those blessed nattering nabobs of negativism.

Reel men fish on Wednesdays

Good pull-Spiro T Agnew quote! I wasn't into politics when I was in 2nd grade lol!

From the 2018 VT-uva game-"This is when LEGENDS are made!"

He was a doodle all right, but that quote is about all anyone will really remember about him. It's a damn fine one at that, and I know I should have done the quotation marks to give credit to whom it is due.

Reel men fish on Wednesdays

From the 2018 VT-uva game-"This is when LEGENDS are made!"

Cracked me up just when I needed a laugh. Thanks. Great 16 seconds!!! But you must admit, we old enough still remember his name, and many remember that quote, mainly for the alliteration, I'll admit, but still, who'll remember me when I'm gone?

Reel men fish on Wednesdays

Cracked me up just when I needed a laugh. Thanks. Great 16 seconds!!! But you must admit, we old enough still remember his name, and many remember that quote, mainly for the alliteration, I'll admit, but still, who'll remember me when I'm gone?

Reel men fish on Wednesdays

So James was pestering this guy to clear players for action when the guy didn't think they were ready? I am sure it happens a lot between coaches and team docs. I am not condoning it, something to watch out for. I would like to know if the players were pushing on the same way or if Coach was pushing the players too. If the player is saying he's ready and the coaches think he looks ready and the doc is saying no, I could see how this situation could start to get gray.

Plan for the worst and hope for the best, not the other way around.

And there is never a bright solid line which is crossed and one can easily identify the point at which it is 100% safe to play.

It is always a crapshoot and differing opinions as well as human emotions to contend with.

Then there is the case that most Dr.'s and lawyers will be risk averse, coaches and players less so or even risk tolerant.

This is going to be great for the ACC.

I agree with others here. There is a grey area, and this is well within it.

When a team gets a physician who is a little too "player advocat-y", it can be a hindrance to the main goal of "high performance, low maintenance".

This actually happens in every organization. There is often some squeaky wheel who is perceived as going overboard to the point of freezing the organization to the point where they are no longer able to perform their mission. You need a balance, but some employees can't find that.

In this case, the guy and his lawyers GOT PAID. I notice nobody else hired him as a team physician, or ever will.

I would love to see injury data on PSU, did they have more injuries than other players? Did they have more players reinjure themselves? We'll never see anything like that but its hard to tell what really happened without data.

However once you take swings at an ex coach and tell everyone the coach still their is okay then you lost all credibility.

Doctor was awarded $, was that because he showed professional/personal damage from possible unfair firing?
Im not looking into it, but if the players aren't part of the suit, im not sure what the damage monies are for.

I get the impression massive damages are often awarded because lawyers are experts at choosing juries.

We need tort reform, so that damages are limited, and go into a pool instead of being awarded to the plaintiffs and their sharks. I mean lawyers.

Franklins interference could have been asking "Hey Doc, when do you think XXXX is going to be ready to play again?"

This is a bad look and I have my doubts Franklin is in the right here. This feels like the classic "coach says you're fine".

This is something I hope VT watches closely.... But we'll see.

VT 2016
Go Hokies

I feel if it had really been an issue that put the athletes at risk, the athletes in question would have been bringing lawsuits well before now. That said, dont be surprised to see a few lawyers now latch on to this story and look for PSU players during Franklin's tenure that will claim they have life long injuries because they were rushed back too soon.

Rob Peterson
VTCC
Charlie/Hotel Company
Class of 1999

As others have noted there is a huge grey area here. I'm sure Franklin and all coaches are constantly asking for updates on injuries and what the timeline is for recovery. It is one of the single biggest issues they have to deal with during the season. With that said, of course they want them back out there playing. And I'd say the players want to be back out there as well. Anyone that has played much football has played hurt. It's a physical game that, no matter how careful you are, likely has lifelong detrimental effects on your body's well being for most participants.

The article starts with this:

Dr. Scott Lynch is in Sweden continuing his crusade for medical autonomy for team doctors treating college athletes. But he took time out of his international schedule to weigh in on the firing of the coach with whom he clashed,

What are you doing in Sweden advocating for American College Football players and medical autonomy?

Rob Peterson
VTCC
Charlie/Hotel Company
Class of 1999

#Tax-Write-off

Also, while he sued and won against Penn State Health, he also sued Penn State and their Chief Integrity Officer in July in a separate suit. That case is still pending some decisions on proper venue or outright dismissal so he has an active reason to stir the pot.

Rob Peterson
VTCC
Charlie/Hotel Company
Class of 1999

VT's orthopedic medicine history isn't exactly great.

Five star get after it 100 percent Juice Key-Playing. MAN

Sounds like a JMFF hit piece to me

Reach for Excellence!

VT Football: It'll get after ya!

Proud Hokie since 2004.

He won the suit against Penn State, but still demands satisfaction.