GPs warned to beware of sports for the unfit

HEALTH EDITOR GPs should be “cautious” about vouching for patients who claim they are fit enough to run a marathon, their legal advisers said.

The Medical Protection Society (MPS) said more people were signing up for marathons, triathlons and desert “fat camps” when they were simply not fit enough.

The Society issued its advice after a rise in queries from doctors, who said they felt under pressure to sign fitness forms without knowing whether the patient was in good enough shape to cope with the exertion. More than half of the 253,930 UK applicants for a ballot place in today’s London Marathon had never run one before.

Dr Pallavi Bradshaw, of the MPS, said: “It is encouraging to see more people getting involved in sporting activities and challenges, and raising money for charities. While GPs will not want to dampen that enthusiasm they should remain objective when asked to sign fitness to participate forms.”

Vouching for patients who had poor fitness levels could leave doctors open to claims of negligence, she said, adding that they should encourage “realistic goals” for those aiming too high.