Chapter 7
Care and Compensation for Civilian Casualties of War
As the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan raged, Coalition forces faced the need to care for the civilian population. Civilians include all those who are not Coalition soldiers, defense contractors, local security forces or insurgents. To meet the medical needs of a diverse population, Coalition forces proceeded on many fronts that included emergency care, cooperation with medical NGOs and the slow rebuilding of local healthcare facilities.
During the invasion period and after, many sick and injured Iraqi and Afghani civilians sought care at combat support hospitals earmarked for Coalition and host-nation security forces. Overloaded with more patients than they could care for, military and medical commanders had to decide whether and how to care for civilians. The first rule of medical eligibility confers priority care upon Coalition soldiers, gives host-nation allies access to emergency care but says nothing about local civilians. A second rule addresses their eligibility for medical treatment at Coalition military medical hospitals on two conditions:
- Their injuries pose an imminent threat to life, limb or eyesight and
- Their injuries are the direct result of Coalition military action.
Anyone else - whether severely ill, a victim of a work accident or a civilian hurt by insurgents or terrorists - is out of luck. She will not be admitted and left to fend for herself.
Neglected & Unattended Questions
- Are the Medical Rules of Eligibility for Civilians Fair?
- Do Victims of Collateral Harm Enjoy Special Rights to Medical Care? (No!)
- Is Compensation Due for Collateral, Accidental or Negligent Harm in War? (Yes!)
- Fair Compensation: Money or Medicine? (Maybe!)