Concussion: The Doctor's Research That Changed Football - Essay Sample

Introduction

The book "Concussion," initially published in 2015, is written by American writer Jeanne Marie Laskas as a thriller, biography, and medical mystery. The story revolves around Nigerian doctor Bennet Omalu who studied the brains of A-list football stars as part of his work. The doctor wanted to increase his knowledge of how repeated concussions and damage that emanate from traumatic brain injuries could lead to chronic pain, disability, and possibly death. The research by Omalu has had a very significant impact on the American Institution of National Football League to the point of almost leading to its dismantling. It also caused the field of sports medicine and professional athletics to introduce drastic changes.

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Omalu is a very successful forensic pathologist that works in Allegheny County in Pennsylvania. His areas of specialization are anatomic, forensic, clinical, and neuropathology. Unlike his boss Cyril Wecht, Omalu is a somehow calms, introverted, and stoic doctor with a lot of passion in his work.

Laskas get met Omalu when he is in one of his works. He had been given the task of examining the body of Mike Webster, a former football player with the Pittsburg Steelers. Webster had tragically died in 2002, in what assumed as a heart attack. But Webster had developed bizarre symptoms before his death. He had developed early-onset dementia and unpredictable mood swings. But Omalu's examination of Webster's brain indicated that he had developed chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). CTE is a brain disease that develops as a result of frequent concussions, just as the ones experienced by Webster in his football career that spanned almost two decades.

The author spends a considerable amount of time talking about Webster. She had been tasked with airing the story on GQ magazine. Wester was a hero in his city of Pittsburg. He had played more games than any other player in the history of his team. Webster played two hundred and twenty games in his 18-year career. He was someone who was admired by the players and Pittsburg residents as well. But Laskas thinks that he was let down by the National Football League, which is the organization that was supposed to protect him.

Omalu's court testimony about his findings was not received well by the National Football League, which insisted that Mike Webster's death was as a result of a heart attack. Omalu's attempt to write medical journals about his research was blocked from talking about CTE. His analysis and his decision to speak about it attracted a lot of negative attention. But his goal was to make everyone, including professional football players, informed and knowledgeable about the disease so that they could take precautions and protect themselves while playing.

Laskas book is related to the brain because it tries to increase awareness about CTE, which is a brain disease. Laskas writes, rather convincingly, about NFL's ineptitude and unwillingness to address the issue and introduce changes to the sport. She also tries to create awareness about Omalu's attempt to make his research known. Football players are at a high risk of developing CTE because of the numerous concussions that they experience in the course of their carrier. The nature of the sport makes them susceptible to it, more than many other careers.

Therefore, "Concussion" serves as an informative book on brain anatomy and the dangers associated with concussion. The book attracted a significant amount of attention on the issue enough to get a Hollywood movie. It is up to the NFL to take responsibility and protect their players from such brain injuries that emanate from playing football.