On this podcast with Kurt Browning and PJ Kwong, they answer a viewer question about whether athletes should be ordered to withdraw immediately if they receive a head injury. For anyone who may not be able to watch it due to being outside Canada:
While Kwong seems to believe some more safety measures should be imposed (she wasn't very emphatic), Browning vehemently disagreed. He believes both Han Yan and Yuzuru Hanyu were checked out by the doctors, given the okay to skate, and did so. He did say that "if the referee were a medical doctor," perhaps the athletes should listen to them... But he says ultimately the decision lies with the athlete, and I don't think he has a problem with that. He also said that head injuries aren't common in FS and people shouldn't worry too much about the incident.
(Just linking it in case anyone is interested on a skater's take. I can certainly understand Browning's POV--not wanting someone else to make the withdrawal decision for you--though I was surprised by how he was almost... dismissive of head injuries. Even humorously told a story about how he hit his head in a recent practice, and came out fine.)
While Kwong seems to believe some more safety measures should be imposed (she wasn't very emphatic), Browning vehemently disagreed. He believes both Han Yan and Yuzuru Hanyu were checked out by the doctors, given the okay to skate, and did so. He did say that "if the referee were a medical doctor," perhaps the athletes should listen to them... But he says ultimately the decision lies with the athlete, and I don't think he has a problem with that. He also said that head injuries aren't common in FS and people shouldn't worry too much about the incident.
(Just linking it in case anyone is interested on a skater's take. I can certainly understand Browning's POV--not wanting someone else to make the withdrawal decision for you--though I was surprised by how he was almost... dismissive of head injuries. Even humorously told a story about how he hit his head in a recent practice, and came out fine.)