US army hospitals in Iraq criticised

[Judi Lynn]

US army hospitals in Iraq criticised
Tuesday, 05 Sep 2006 00:01

Western nations' military hospitals need to acknowledge a change in modern warfare by acknowledging the need to treat wounded civilian children, US doctors have said.

A report into the activities of a US army hospital operating in Balad, Iraq from January 2004 to May 2005 shows that attempts to treat injured civilians, including children, proved inadequate to the task.

Lt Col Christopher Coppola of the US Air Force, reporting with colleagues on the status of the hospital around 40 miles north of Baghdad in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine journal, says that the mission's objective - to just treat wounded combat soldiers – was eroded during the period of the study.

"Our facility experienced 'mission creep' because of the presence of injured civilians, including children. Children additionally had dehydration and malnutrition, which contribute to increased mortality," he said.
(snip/...)

http://www.inthenews.co.uk/news/news/defence/us-army-hospitals-in-iraq-criticised-$449411.htm

[TomInTib]

1. As someone who spent a good bit of time in military hospitals...

I am pretty conflicted on this.

My heart absolutely goes out to the wounded and injured civilians, but I think back on what we (as soldiers) would have felt (and done) if the hospitals we were in had been treating Vietnamese people under the same roof.

Tough call.

[NOLADEM]

2. Maybe create a separate building??

I dunno...It would be pretty expensive and manpower intensive, but it is hard to argue the necessity of treating innocent children you accidentally blow up. Especially when the opinion the populace has of its occupiers is so essential to mission success.

Nah, too practical, too human....Never happen on the Chimp's watch.

[TomInTib]

3. That was my thought, as well. nt