Military Medical Ethics – Scenario Collection

Risky participation in a marathon

Page ID: 56
Last updated: 04 Aug, 2020
Page ID: 56
Last updated: 04 Aug, 2020
Revision: 1
Comments: 0

Soldier X is a member of the police staff in a peacekeeping operation. He intends to take part in a mini marathon event organised for soldiers when off duty.

The military doctor recommended him not to participate because the temperature was excessively high and X had varicosity in his legs. These two risk factors seemed too dangerous for thromboembolic disease.

Soldier X participates nevertheless and halfway of the marathon he needs resuscitation because of a pulmonary embolism. X survives and is evacuated by MEDEVAC.

Source: Lajos, Nemeth (2014): "Military Medical Ethics in Peacekeeping Operations".
In: Messelken, D./ H.U. Baer (ed.): Proceedings of the 3rd ICMM Workshop on Military Medical Ethics. Bern: ZEM, pp.54-63.

Questions for the discussion of this scenario

Would it have been correct if the doctor had asked help from the commander to prevent Soldier X from participating?

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Page ID: 56
Last updated: 04 Aug, 2020
Revision: 1
Comments: 0
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