The doctor vs. the Command: can disagreement arise?

ABSTRACT

Doctors have long since assisted the Command on operations and in providing day to day bespoke medical care to the UK Armed Forces. Doctors and the Command work along different models that confer different obligations and priorities. For doctors the patient and their wellbeing is of primary importance and for the Command, the Unit as a whole with its military goals are of primary concern. Most of the time these two models work in harmony. However occasionally disagreement can arise. This article examines the models guiding their respective practice in order to understand the underpinnings of these disagreements, and offers some discussion of the issues, particularly as they pertain to the deployed environment. Finally, some recommendations are made to equip doctors and the Command to contain any disagreements.