The famed forensic pathologist who inspired the NFL drama “Concussion” said he would bet his medical license on the theory that O.J. Simpson suffered from severe head trauma from playing professional football for more than a decade.
Before Simpson was convicted on armed robbery and kidnapping charges in 2008, he considered using the defense that repeated blows to head during his NFL career contributed to his actions, People magazine reported.
Dr. Bennet Omalu, the world-renowned doctor played by actor Will Smith in “Concussion, said he supports the theory that Simpson suffers from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE.
“I would bet my medical license that he has CTE,” Mr. Omalu told People.
Those suffering from CTE, which can only conclusively be confirmed after death by testing cross sections of brain tissue, can experience a wide range of behavioral symptoms, including mood swings, violent tendencies and exaggerated emotional reactions to everyday stresses, People reported.
“Given his profile, I think it’s not an irresponsible conclusion to suspect he has CTE,” Mr. Omalu said.
Simpson, who was acquitted of the 1994 murders of ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman, is currently serving a 33-year prison sentence at the Lovelock Correctional Center in Lovelock, Nevada, on unrelated charges of armed robbery and kidnapping.
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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