Role conflict and confidentiality in multidisciplinary athlete support programmes

As medical and scientific staff have increasingly been called upon to provi de multidisciplinary support to elite performers the potential for ethical, professional, and legal conflicts has also increased. Although this has be en recognised, Little guidance has been provided to help resolve such confl icts. This paper identifies key issues in the provision of effective suppor t and specifically addresses the roles of medical and scientific staff and their relations to coaches and performers. An athlete charter is presented that has successfully been used to resolve ethical conflicts and clarify th e Lines of communication, confidentiality; and responsibility within a nati onal governing body.