Military Medical Ethics – Scenario Collection

Estimating the age of captured persons

Page ID: 42
Last updated: 24 Jul, 2017
Page ID: 42
Last updated: 24 Jul, 2017
Revision: 3
Comments: 0

During a PEO mission, the UN mandated forces are regularly attacked by rebel groups. Among their groups are an important number of fighters who are suspected to be under-age.

After a new incident that involved heavy fighting, five rebel fighters are held captured and the commander wants to interrogate them to try to get information about their group, planned attacks, and the like. However, the commander fears political implications in interrogating minors.

Thus, he asks the dentists that are accompanying the mission to examine the captured fighters and to give him an age certificate based on the dental status.

Source: Informed by report from a mission.

Questions for the discussion of this scenario

1. Should the dentists comply with the request and perform an age estimation?
2. What criteria must be met if the dentists perform an age estimation?

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Page ID: 42
Last updated: 24 Jul, 2017
Revision: 3
Comments: 0
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