Former Louisiana State University (LSU) football player Greg Brooks Jr. is making headlines after filing a lawsuit against both LSU and Our Lady of the Lake Health, centered around allegations of medical negligence involving his care.
The lawsuit, lodged on August 2, 2024, claims Brooks Jr., now 23, experienced significant delays and mismanagement concerning his brain tumor diagnosis. Reflecting on his former life as one of the youngest team captains for LSU, Brooks revealed his struggles on ABC’s "Good Morning America" (GMA) earlier this week, where he shared his ordeal of being misdiagnosed before finally being found to have the tumor.
"I just want to raise awareness for the young athletes who might find themselves struggling similarly. If something hurts, speak up! If nothing is done, get yourself another opinion,” said Brooks during the interview. He emphasized his hope to educate others based on his experience.
Brooks first started feeling unwell during football practice back in August 2023, citing symptoms like nausea, dizziness, and severe headaches. The situation escalated. According to the lawsuit, Brooks - who had played for LSU from 2022-2023 - fainted and vomited during practice, prompting intervention from athletic trainers. Instead of being directed to see medical professionals, he was told by the head athletic trainer he was experiencing vertigo and was cleared to return to practice. This misdiagnosis persisted for several weeks, during which Brooks continued to experience debilitating symptoms.
On September 14, 2023, nearly 39 days after his first reported symptoms, Brooks underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which revealed the presence of a brain tumor. The next day, he was rushed to emergency surgery at Our Lady of the Lake Medical Center, conducted by Dr. Brandon Gaynor, where he was reported to have suffered multiple strokes due to alleged malpractice during the procedure.
“I woke up from surgery thinking it was all just some sort of nightmare. I couldn't believe this was happening to me,” Brooks shared, now having to relearn fundamental skills including speech, writing, and eating. His father, Greg Brooks Sr., expressed feelings of betrayal and concern over the circumstances. "There was so much I wasn't told by LSU. I thought my son's best interests were being protected, but I guess I was wrong. I received one phone call saying: 'You need to be here; your son is having surgery tomorrow,'” he recalled, frustration evident as he spoke about the lack of communication from coaches and officials at LSU after the diagnosis.
This gap in communication, particularly notable since none of LSU’s coaching staff, including head coach Brian Kelly, reached out to the Brooks family since October 2023, has added emotional distress to the family’s ordeal. “Where were they? My son almost lost his life. Forget about football, just reach out as humans,” said Brooks Sr.
With the intention of holding LSU and its medical associates accountable, the lawsuit alleges negligence on multiple fronts, including accusations against the participating surgeons for not possessing the necessary qualifications to manage Brooks' procedure. The Brooks family has been vocal about the dire consequences of surgery, claiming severe and permanent disabilities resulted from medical malpractice.
"Greg sustained those injuries during surgery which were completely avoidable if proper measures and qualified care had been taken," stated Jeffrey S. Rosenblum, the attorney representing Brooks. Rosenblum disclosed how the surgical procedure was immensely complicated and requires mastery to minimize risks, calling it tragic and lamenting Brooks' prospects of reaching the NFL.
Despite being declared cancer-free after undergoing both chemotherapy and radiation treatments, Brooks and his family continue to navigate the aftermath of his medical battles. The emotional toll is compounded by the physical rehabilitation efforts he faces daily, prompting Brooks Sr. to state, “The disease is not the issue; it's the severe injuries sustained as collateral damage during surgery.”
LSU, under pressure to address claims made publicly about the handling of Brooks Jr.'s case, has released minimal statements. They claimed they would not comment on the active litigation, but their communications have reiterated their condolences and best wishes for Brooks’ recovery. The measures they’ve taken following the initial diagnosis included wearing stickers with Brooks' jersey number and his image on the field.
Meanwhile, Our Lady of the Lake Hospital also refrained from commenting on the lawsuit, citing patient privacy laws but highlighted the expertise of its neurological team.
“Providing exceptional medical care to athletes is our highest priority,” their statement read, which did little to assuage the concerns of Brooks and his family.
Looking to the future, the Brooks family continues to advocate for transparency and athlete welfare within sports programs, urging others to speak up about their health concerns, share experiences, and take charge of their medical decisions.
"Whatever card I'm dealt, that's the card I'm going to play—and I'm going to make sure I win,” Brooks conveyed, expressing optimism amid the uncertainty of his ultimate recovery and the continual challenge to overcome the significant changes brought by his surgery and treatment.
Through his story, Brooks aims not just to seek justice for himself, but to inspire young athletes everywhere to be proactive about their health and well-being, ensuring they have the support they need on and off the field.