The Ethics Committee of the Israel Medical Association (IMA) has announced a directive for physicians, that they must treat the most seriously wounded patient first, even if that is a terrorist who wounded others requiring medical care at the scene. These directives are also expected to serve as a guideline for emergency medical technicians and paramedics.
According to the Yisrael Hayom report, the doctors at the scene of a terror attack are expected to triage the victims and treat them according to the severity of their injuries regardless of terrorist and victims.
It appears one of the factors that prompted the committee to meet and change its directive was the terror attack in the Beersheva Central Bus Station in which an innocent man mistaken for a terrorist was shot and wounded, then ignored. While medical personnel on the scene treated victims of the attack, the innocent wounded man was beaten by the angry crowd. He died of his injuries but the autopsy concluded his death was caused by the gunshot wounds and not the beating from angry civilians.
Dr. Tammy Karni, who chairs the IMA committee, is quoted telling Yisrael Hayom the reason for changing the guidelines is because doctors are not judges. She adds that if a doctor does not treat an individual, the terrorist, this is tantamount to punishing him by withholding life-saving care.
Dr. Karni adds “At a multi-casualty incident it is very easy to error regarding the identity of the wounded and he [the physician] must be as focused as possible on medical care and saving lives, nothing else. It is not logical to add to a doctor’s burden and expect him to sort out factors unrelated to medical care”.
The previous guidelines, released in 2008, instructed doctors to treat victims before a terrorist.
Professor Asa Kasher opposes the amended guidelines, explaining “You cannot say considerations should only be medical. This is unacceptable. Suppose two people are seriously wounded and the one a bit more serious is the terrorist. take care of him and only after him address the victim of terror? This is unacceptable!”
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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11 Responses
Totally stupid! Doctors aren’t judges? Even regular civilians shoot and kill the terrorists to stop murder! Just a few days ago and civilian stopped a MAJOR tragedy near the string bridge by killing the terrorist.
This is Israel! The Arab Terrorists have more rights than Jews! How come there is No death penalty for Arabs?!?
Lets not forget just a few weeks ago R’ yaakov Litman was murdered with his son. But before they died; the other son saw a Red Cross ambulance passing; the red cross is supposedly non discriminating…… and they begged them to help but the red crescent told them to call Mada…. So bevakasha, let the arab dr.s come and treat the terrorists…and Mada and Hatzala will treat israeli victims..
geula, perfect answer, right on target.
Yet the IMA is probably trying to be the righteous party here, as in “just because they are bad does not give us license to be bad.’ Ok, another good reason to be very sure the terrorist doesn’t have any life in him/her by the time medics arrive. Pass it on…
Additional remark: Interesting loophole, for what it’s worth, can the IMA’s directive which according to the wording is a requirement for DOCTORS, not actually apply to EMS? EMS are not physicians!! Mwahahaha
The only answer to this is to make sure that the terrorist is already dead before any medical personnel are on the scene.
If you will, let me quote a “pasuk” from the Tochicha:
והיית משוגע ממראה עיניך אשר תראה
How very true! Terrorists getting medical assistance before their victims!! Incredible.
By all means treat the terrorist first…TO A BULLET TO THE HEAD!!!
In a way it could be good.
The terrorist wants to die as a martyr. That is his ultimate.
By treating him it will prevent him reaching his goal and he will be a crippled man locked up in jail crying for his mum.
let him suffer!!!
But he still should be treated last way after am yisrol.
what if he chas vesolom killed
It’s a moot point since the police needs to check the terrorist.