Military Surgeon and Humanity

LU Lu　WANG Yiran

【Abstract】Military surgeons are a special group of doctors.They are both medical workers and soldiers.Their mission is to serve the wounded on the battlefield.And there is no doubt that military surgeons will save our comrades in the army.However，should a military surgeon save the wounded enemy？ It is indeed a dilemma.Some may save the wounded enemy because military surgeons are doctors after all and they cant possibly abandon anybody to his fate，but some refuse to do so because military surgeons are soldiers.Therefore，some situations on the battlefield are discussed and advice is suggested for military surgeons，with heartfelt anticipation for there being less casualties on the battlefield as well as alleviating human suffering caused by war.

【Keywords】Military surgeon； Humanity； Wounded enemy； Geneva Conventions

1.Background

War is unmerciful and it means shedding blood and laying down lives，so there are many casualties on the battlefield.It makes no sense to talk about humanity when related to war until military surgeons come into being and go to the battlefield.There are not only deaths，but also survivals as a result of emergency rescue from military surgeons who give the wounded medical care.However，should military surgeons save all the wounded including the enemy？ Saving the wounded is a sensitive issue in relation to endeavors to rescue and treat wounded enemy，especially for military surgeons who are both soldiers and doctors.It is really a dilemma.Military medical ethics evaluation has double ethical dimensions，namely the medical science and military affairs，which bring about many paradoxes.

2.To save or to abandon

2.1 Loyalty

As one part of the army，military surgeons should try their best to defeat the enemy and that is exactly the definition of loyalty for a soldier.Military surgeons should be loyal to their country and many outstanding predecessors have sacrificed their lives for the motherland，so they should seize every opportunity to kill the enemy but not to save the wounded enemy.In other words，to serve the wounded enemy is equal to lending a hand to them and sabotage our own strength，which in a sense betrays the motherland.Maybe military surgeons should abandon the wounded enemy as unsalvageable at this point.

2.2 Human nature

Its natural that soldiers，including military surgeons，harbor grudge against the wounded enemy who have slaughtered their family or comrades on the battlefield.If the wounded enemy recovered，he might continue to kill our family or comrades in the army，so there is no reason to help him to restore to heath.Leaving the wounded enemy to die is a choice people take granted for.It is only human nature that we are emotionally compelled to see an eye for an eye.Refusing to save the enemy is understandable and even forgivable.

2.3 Enemys noncooperation

Military surgeons need a safe niche to save the wounded.The two sides should both provide protection to medical organizations and medical workers.However，the opposing party may not obey the rules on the battlefield.In the movie The Flowers of War，a group of Japanese army rushed into a church covered with a huge Red Cross flag without permission，and they attacked civilians who hid themselves in the church.The church was a refugees camp，which deserved protection instead of devastation.Savage Japanese army might kill anyone evenaa military surgeon under that circumstance.So how can military surgeons do their work？

Put in such a complex situation，many may refuse to save the wounded enemy because saving means being disloyal to the motherland and also runs against human nature.So we should leave the wounded enemy to die，is it really right？ Are there any exceptions？

3.A Different Choice

In the Crimean War between England and Russia in the 19th century，a young military surgeon stood out.His name was Wrech.In his diary Wrech referred to an incident during the siege of Sevastopol.He wrote to his family on 7 July 1855 describing an encounter with a dying Russian soldier.

“（During a night action） I was sitting on a stone when I heard a groan near me，and upon looking I found a poor Russian boy wounded in the side，I lit a candle and looked at him but found I could do nothing to （i.e.for） him so I gave him some water...and laid his head on a flat stone，but upon looking at him again I found him dead.”

It is difficult to say how much effort was put into rescuing wounded enemy，but clearly some attempt was made.Still，Wrech is a model for military surgeons，because he valued life as the most precious regardless of nationality or political opinions.What he did not only give a second life to the wounded，but also made us rethink about our selfishness profoundly.He is just like a candle in darkness which gives us the right direction.

Wrech was not alone in thinking about the relationship between military surgeon and humanity.A Swiss man called Henry Dunant put thoughts into action.

4.The Geneva Conventions

The Geneva Conventions came into being between 1864 and 1949 as a result of efforts by Henry Dunant，the founder of the International Committee of the Red Cross.The conventions safeguard the human rights of individuals involved in armed conflict，and ensure respect for all human beings，and to prevent and alleviate human suffering，without any discrimination based on nationality，race，sex，religious beliefs，class or political opinions.Up to now，more than 200 countries and regions have signed Geneva Conventions，including China.It means that our government recognizes the convention and will do as it rules.Therefore，it holds significance to reiterate a military surgeons mission on the battlefield，that is：

4.1 All the wounded shall be treated humanely and shall receive medical care and attention required by their condition.

4.2 Military surgeons and all medical workers are neutral and should save all wounded without discrimination.When we save the wounded enemy，enemy military surgeons will save us as an exchange.That is beneficial to both sides.

5.Conclusion

Battlefield is a place full of blood.Human suffering calls for humanity.Suppose you are sent to war as a military surgeon，and you are witnessing people dying before your eyes.What would you do？ I would save them first and I hope your choice is the same with mine.