MME Scenario Collection


Public health in the Deployed Environment

"A female local national language interpreter presents to your aid station for symptoms compatible with general disease (dysuria, vaginal discharge, pelvic pain), and continues to engage in unsafe sexual practices with soldiers on your compound (multiple visits for healthcare).

You have limited resources for evaluating and treating sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). You are not comfortable providing broad empiric therapy every time she presents with complaints that are compatible with STD's, especially given the lack of diagnostic ability at your austere location.

Your commander wants to expel her from the camp, despite knowing that her safety in the local community may be compromised (retaliation for working for the occupying force). The commander wants your recommendation."

Source: Jacob Collen, Patrick O'Malley, Michael Roy and Laura Sessums: "Military Medical Ethics: Experience from Operation Iraqi Freedom"
In: Gross, Michael L./ Don Carrick (eds). 2013. Military medical ethics for the 21st century. Farnham: Ashgate, p. 25.

Questions for the discussion of this scenario

1. What do you recommend to the commander?
2. What other actions may you take in such a scenario?



Page ID: 73
Last updated: 04 Aug, 2020
Revision: 1
Military Medical Ethics Scenarios -> Civil-military cooperation -> Public health in the Deployed Environment
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