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A former Pennsylvania State University athletics doctor has sued the institution, alleging James Franklin, the head football coach, pressured him to try to clear injured athletes to return to the field.
Scott A. Lynch was removed as both the football team’s orthopedic physician and the university’s director of athletic medicine in March. He still works in the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, which provides medical services for Penn State athletes.
Lynch alleges in his lawsuit he was ousted from his two positions for alerting administrators to Franklin’s attempts to influence his decisions on injured athletes.
He is seeking $50,000 in damages and said that Penn State violated his rights as a whistle-blower.
Penn State Health, which is named as a defendant, issued the following statement: “Penn State Health administrators decided to change leadership for athletic medicine and the delivery of care for intercollegiate athletics. This transition was completed with the best interests of student-athletes in mind, given the increasing complexity and growing demands of sports medicine, as well as health care in general. While we reject Dr. Lynch’s claims and will vigorously defend our program and its representatives, we remain grateful to him for his five years as director of athletic medicine for intercollegiate athletics and for his continued association with Penn State Health.”
