Do Sports Nutritionists Get Sued?

Do Sports Nutritionists Get Sued?

The answer is a surprising, yes. While it may be less common than it is in other professions, Sports Nutritionists do find themselves facing liability claims, especially as they grow in their practice and expand outside the traditional scope of nutritional care. For example, Sports Nutritionists in the business of recommending supplements to their clients are at a higher risk for liability, as the effectiveness and safety-level of a supplement is dependent on the health of the person taking it.

Minimizing Your Risks

No matter your area of specialty or expertise, there are a number of core tactics any Sports Nutritionist should implement to help reduce the likelihood of being charged with negligence or liability for the care you provide. They’re centered around being cautious and caring in how you do business.

1. Be Respectful. Treating your clients—whether age 2 or 82—with utmost respect goes a long way. Sometimes the simple matter of how much attention and patience was exercised while providing treatment helps to determine whether or not a client sues. A complaint regarding the service you provided may be something a disgruntled or injured client is able and willing to overlook if they believe they had your full respect.
2. Always Be the Best You Can Be. As a Sports Nutritionist, your clients depend on you to provide the best care possible. Demonstrating your competence and ability to follow proper procedures and policies will be to your advantage when a claim against you is scrutinized.
3. Keep Current. Maintain your skills and knowledge, and engage yourself in the Sports Nutrition industry by networking with other Sports Nutritionists in your area, joining a reputable Association, and subscribing to trade publications to stay up-to-date.
4. Be Thorough in Your Recordkeeping. If you are named in a liability claim, the records for that client will be called under review—you’ll want to be sure that accurate details of the care you provided to that client were recorded. Many claims of liability occur months, or even years after the care was provided—incomplete or illegible records will do you a major disservice at a time when they should be to your defense. It’s imperative that every client visit, every assessment, every recommendation and all adjustments be recorded. Even if a conversation or minor change in plan seems insignificant at the time, write it down! Well-kept records are a vital resource in the case of a claim.
5. Communication is Key. Hand-in-hand with treating your clients respectfully, when you develop a good rapport and keep open lines of communication with your clients and their families, your chances of being sued are lessened. Engage in frequent communication, and don’t only focus on the course of treatment, but be personable and caring about how your clients are doing in general.
6. Buy Professional Liability Insurance. We live in a litigious society where claims are made against professionals every day. A client who feels he or she has been wronged or injured under your care can be swayed to file suit, even if their claim turns out to be groundless. And in the case of an unfortunate instance where a simple mistake ends in an unfavorable result, your best defense as a professional Sports Nutritionist is securing a personal Professional Liability Insurance policy. Employer-provided liability insurance is often designed to cover numerous employees under a shared limit. But with your own insurance policy, you are covered for the full amount of the policy based on the limits you choose—it’s practical coverage that gives you the financial protection you’ll need if you find yourself named in a liability claim.

Following these principles will give you a great footing in your professional career and will go a long way in earning the trust of your clients.

To learn more about the Sports Nutrition Professional Liability Insurance offered by Lockton Fitness visit our Coverage Overview.