Are Military and Medical Ethics Necessarily Incompatible? A Canadian Case Study

2016 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 639-651 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christiane Rochon ◽  
Bryn Williams-Jones
Keyword(s):  
Medical Ethics ◽  
Code Of Ethics ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Codes Of Ethics ◽  
Core Values ◽  
Dual Loyalty ◽  
Canadian Armed Forces ◽  
Military Institution ◽  
The Military ◽  
Military Physicians

Military physicians are often perceived to be in a position of ‘dual loyalty’ because they have responsibilities towards their patients but also towards their employer, the military institution. Further, they have to ascribe to and are bound by two distinct codes of ethics (i.e., medical and military), each with its own set of values and duties, that could at first glance be considered to be very different or even incompatible. How, then, can military physicians reconcile these two codes of ethics and their distinct professional/institutional values, and assume their responsibilities towards both their patients and the military institution? To clarify this situation, and to show how such a reconciliation might be possible, we compared the history and content of two national professional codes of ethics: the Defence Ethics of the Canadian Armed Forces and the Code of Ethics of the Canadian Medical Association. Interestingly, even if the medical code is more focused on duties and responsibility while the military code is more focused on core values and is supported by a comprehensive ethical training program, they also have many elements in common. Further, both are based on the same core values of loyalty and integrity, and they are broad in scope but are relatively flexible in application. While there are still important sources of tension between and limits within these two codes of ethics, there are fewer differences than may appear at first glance because the core values and principles of military and medical ethics are not so different.

scholarly journals Dilemmas in Military Medical Ethics: A Call for Conceptual Clarity

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christiane Rochon
Keyword(s):  
Medical Ethics ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Military Medicine ◽  
Codes Of Ethics ◽  
Armed Conflicts ◽  
Conceptual Clarity ◽  
Ethical Conflicts ◽  
Military Medical Ethics ◽  
The Military ◽  
Military Physicians

Despite the increase in and evolving nature of armed conflicts, the ethical issues faced by military physicians working in such contexts are still rarely examined in the bioethics literature. Military physicians are members of the military, even if they are non-combatants; and their role is one of healer but also sometimes humanitarian. Some scholars wonder about the moral compatibility of being both a physician and soldier. The ethical conflicts raised in the literature regarding military physicians can be organized into three main perspectives: 1) moral problems in military medicine are particular because of the difficulty of meeting the requirements of traditional bioethical principles; 2) medical codes of ethics and international laws are not well adapted to or are too restrictive for a military context; and 3) physicians are social actors who should either be pacifists, defenders of human rights, politically neutral or promoters of peace. A review of the diverse dilemmas faced by military physicians shows that these differ substantially by level (micro, meso, macro), context and the actors involved, and that they go beyond issues of patient interests. Like medicine in general, military medicine is complex and touches on potentially contested views of the roles and obligations of the physician. Greater conceptual clarity is thus needed in discussions about military medical ethics.

Teaching Military Medical Ethics: Another Look at Dual Loyalty and Triage

2010 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 458-464 ◽  
Author(s):  
MICHAEL L. GROSS
Keyword(s):  
Medical Ethics ◽  
Assisted Suicide ◽  
Dual Loyalty ◽  
Core Subjects ◽  
Life Issues ◽  
End Of Life Issues ◽  
Military Medical Ethics ◽  
Short Courses ◽  
The Military ◽  
Military Physicians

Military medical ethics is garnering growing attention today among medical personal in the American and other armies. Short courses or workshops in “battlefield ethics” for military physicians, nurses, medics, social workers, and psychologists address the nature of patient rights in the military, care for detainees, enemy soldiers and local civilians, problems posed by limited resources, ethical questions arising in humanitarian missions, as well as end-of-life issues, ethics consultations, care for veterans, advance directives, and assisted suicide. Although many of these issues are the core subjects of any bioethics curriculum, military medical ethics presents unique challenges to bioethics educators.

scholarly journals (NE)OBSTOJ SLOVENSkE VOJAŠkE IDENTITETE

2012 ◽  
pp. 55-67
Author(s):  
VLADIMIR PREBILIČ ◽  
JELENA JUVAN
Keyword(s):  
Time Perspective ◽  
Code Of Ethics ◽  
Military History ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Core Values ◽  
The Self ◽  
Self Image ◽  
Memory Code ◽  
The Military ◽  
Military Tradition

Kodeks vojaške etike Slovenske vojske (SV) med drugim določa: »pripadniki Slovenske vojske pri opravljanju vojaške službe /…/ spoštujejo slovensko vojaško zgodovinsko tradicijo in skrbijo za ohranjanje nacionalnega vojaškega zgodovinske- ga spomina« (Kodeks, 2009). Pri tem se nedvomno vprašamo, kaj sploh je slovenska vojaška zgodovinska tradicija, ki jo morajo pripadniki SV spoštovati, in kakšen je omenjen vojaški zgodovinski spomin. Časovna opredelitev zgodovinskega spomina je pri tem nujna. Do kod v preteklosti seže slovenski vojaški zgodovinski spomin? Kateri so dejavniki, ki so pomembno vplivali nanj in so posledično opredelili slovensko vojaško tradicijo? Kaj predstavlja slovensko vojaško tradicijo? Ali med dejavnike njenega oblikovanja prištevamo zgolj zmagovite dogodke ali vse vojaške izkušnje, tudi tiste, manj uspešne? Z drugimi besedami – katere so vrednote, ki določajo vojaško tradicijo nekega naroda? Na ta vprašanja bi morala imeti Slovenska vojska pripravljene skrajno jasne odgovore, ki bi omogočali tudi njeno jasno vizijo in bi pomembno vplivali na raven samopodobe slovenskih oboroženih sil ter na njen položaj v slovenski družbi. Žal pa se zdi, da je to področje v veliki zadregi, ki se kaže že v izhodišču – kdo pravzaprav lahko opredeli slovensko vojaško tradicijo in kako se bo ta utrjevala v prihodnje. The Military Code of Ethics of the Slovenian Armed Forces (SAF) states that: » members of the Slovenian Armed Forces /. / – have to respect Slovenian military tradition and promote the preservation of national military history memory« (Code, 2009). This certainly raises a question of how the military history tradition of the SAF is defined and what can be understood as a military history memory. In this respect, time perspective should be considered. How far back does Slovenian military history memory go? Which facts have importantly influenced it and, consequently, defined Slovenian military tradition? What is understood as Slovenian military tradition? Have only victories shaped military tradition, or was it also other military experi- ences, even the less successful ones? What are core values which define a nation's military tradition? The SAF should have very clear answers to these questions. Unambiguous answers would significantly influence the self-image of the SAF and its position in the Slovenian society. Unfortunately, there seems to be a great quandary in the very core of this issue – who is actually responsible for defining Slovenian military tradition and how it can be nurtured in the future.

Healthcare on the Battlefield

2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 197-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brigit Toebes
Keyword(s):  
Medical Ethics ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Medical Personnel ◽  
Armed Conflicts ◽  
Humanitarian Law ◽  
Human Right ◽  
Dual Loyalty ◽  
Medical Neutrality ◽  
Face Complex ◽  
The Military

During armed conflicts healthcare workers or medical personnel often work under extremely difficult and dangerous circumstances. In such situations doctors and nurses, hospitals and medical units are at a serious risk of being attacked. Medical personnel also face complex ethical dilemmas when it comes to the treatment of patients from all sides of a conflict. This concerns military medical personnel in particular: as members of the armed forces, they face dilemmas of ‘dual loyalty’ where they may have to choose between the interests of their employer (the military) and the interests of their patients. This contribution looks at these issues from the perspectives of medical ethics, international humanitarian law (ihl), and human rights law (hrl). The article argues that the standards of medical ethics continue to apply during armed conflicts, and that during such situations medical ethics, ihl and hrl are mutually reinforcing. The principle of ‘medical neutrality’ and the human ‘right to health’ are positioned as key norms in this field. The article presents a normative framework for the delivery of health care on the battlefield in the form of a set of commitments for actors involved in the conflict, including the belligerent parties and (military) medical personnel.

scholarly journals The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members' experience with social services in the military: an exploratory study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felisha K. Khan
Keyword(s):  
Social Services ◽  
Lived Experiences ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Utilization Of Services ◽  
Perceived Need ◽  
Canadian Armed Forces ◽  
Regular Force ◽  
The Military ◽  
Depth Interviews

The aim of this study was to critically explore the strengths, limitations, barriers and gaps in social services within the CAF in relation to delivery, access and uptake of social services while employed in the CAF. The study provided CAF members an opportunity to express their thoughts, ideas and opinions based on their lived experiences, and to explore creative responses and solutions to issues members face with social services in the CAF. Presented are the findings from data collected through semi-structured, in-depth interviews with recently released CAF members. Themes that emerged from the research captured the lived experiences of the participants and were related to: differences between components (Regular Force vs. Reserve Force), perceived need and its effect on utilization of services, significant improvements in services post 9/11 and Afghanistan, organizational and systemic influence, impact of service providers, and better promotion of social services to the greater CAF community.

Working together to address sexual misconduct in the Canadian Armed Forces

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Brown ◽  
Heather Millman ◽  
Bethany Easterbrook ◽  
Alexandra Heber ◽  
Rosemary Park ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gender Discrimination ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Sexual Misconduct ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Canadian Armed Forces ◽  
Military Members ◽  
Physical Health Problems ◽  
Working Together ◽  
And Gender ◽  
The Military

LAY SUMMARY In 2015, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) implemented Operation HONOUR to eliminate sexual misconduct (SM) in the military. Sexual assault, inappropriate sexual behaviours, sexual harassment, and gender discrimination are all types of SM. Experiencing SM can result in depression, substance abuse, physical health problems, and even posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Despite Operation HONOUR, SM still happens in the CAF. At this time, many groups are working together to address SM and to support those who have experienced SM. Canadian-based researchers, policymakers, military members, Veterans, and clinicians are collaborating to identify new approaches to training, culture change, research, and treatment relating to SM in the CAF. The end goal of working together is to minimize SM in the CAF and ensure the health and safety of all CAF members and Veterans.

scholarly journals US military medical ethics in the War on Terror

2019 ◽  
Vol 165 (4) ◽  
pp. 303-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
George J Annas ◽  
S Crosby
Keyword(s):  
Medical Ethics ◽  
War On Terror ◽  
Code Of Ethics ◽  
Medical Professionals ◽  
Ethical Guidelines ◽  
Guantanamo Bay ◽  
Us Military ◽  
Military Medical Ethics ◽  
Prison Camp ◽  
Military Physicians

Military medical ethics has been challenged by the post-11 September 2001 ‘War on Terror’. Two recurrent questions are whether military physicians are officers first or physicians first, and whether military physicians need a separate code of ethics. In this article, we focus on how the War on Terror has affected the way we have addressed these questions since 2001. Two examples frame this discussion: the use of military physicians to force-feed hunger strikers held in Guantanamo Bay prison camp, and the uncertain fate of the Department of Defense’s report on ‘Ethical Guidelines and Practices for US Military Medical Professionals’.

scholarly journals Soldiers and ‘respect’ in complex conflicts: an Afghan case

2017 ◽  
pp. 3-21
Author(s):  
Cornelia Vikan
Keyword(s):  
Sexually Abused ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Core Values ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Moral Problem ◽  
Moral Decision ◽  
Military Mission ◽  
The Military ◽  
International Security Assistance Force ◽  
Point Of Departure

This paper discusses the meaning of ‘respect’ in complex conflicts and aims to be a contribution to thinking about ethics in war along with the Just War tradition. The point of departure is the increased focus on soldiers as moral decision-makers in war, illustrated by the introduction of core values in the Norwegian Armed Forces. ‘Respect’ is one of these core values. However, it is not clear how we should understand ‘respect’ in this kind of context. I use a case where a group of Norwegian soldiers in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) sought the cooperation of a group of mujahedeen to solve the military mission of establishing security. As confidence between the parties grew, the soldiers became horrified witnesses to a practice of bacha bazi, where a young boy is dressed up for entertainment and sexually abused. My discussion of different perspectives of ‘respect’ in this specific context shows the importance of acknowledging the multitude of moral stakes in a moral decision-process instead of closing the eyes for a moral problem.

scholarly journals Mapping Trends in Pedagogical Approaches and Learning Technologies: Perspectives from the Canadian, International, and Military Education Contexts

2016 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 127-147
Author(s):  
Grazia Scoppio ◽  
Leigha Covell
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Postsecondary Education ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Military Education ◽  
Learning Technologies ◽  
Canadian Armed Forces ◽  
Technological Advances ◽  
The Military ◽  
Pedagogical Approaches

Increased technological advances, coupled with new learners’ needs, have created new realities for higher education contexts. This study explored and mapped trends in pedagogical approaches and learning technologies in postsecondary education and identified how these innovations are affecting teaching and learning practices in higher education settings, particularly for the Canadian Armed Forces education system. A qualitative research methodology was employed including a comprehensive review of Canadian and international literature, an environmental scan of Canadian Armed Forces educational institutions, and consultations with experts and practitioners in the field of military education. The research findings shed light on trends in pedagogies and learning technologies in higher education as well as on the presence of these trends in the military educational system. In addition, the findings consider the necessity for a corresponding level of preparedness to meet the needs of diverse learners in the future. This study informs both the field of higher education and the field of military education.   

scholarly journals Medical Ethics for the Military Profession

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (36) ◽  
pp. 851-866
Author(s):  
Martin Bricknell ◽  
Marina Miron
Keyword(s):  
Medical Ethics ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Military Force ◽  
Military Leaders ◽  
Dual Loyalty ◽  
Core Concepts ◽  
Military Profession ◽  
Legal Frameworks ◽  
Military Medical Ethics ◽  
The Military

This paper summarizes medical ethics in the military profession to raise military leaders’ awareness of Military Medical Ethics (MME) and the ethical issues that may impact their medical services and personnel. First, it summarizes core concepts, including the four principles of medical ethics (autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice), the two legal frameworks for the use of military force in war, jus ad bellum and jus in bello, and the concept of dual loyalty. It then examines MME issues during conflict, in garrison healthcare, and during the COVID-19 epidemic. Finally, it concludes by arguing that MME is an important domain of military ethics that should be taught to military leaders to complement the detailed education of MME for military medical professionals.

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