Caring for the wounded

TRAVERSE CITY, MI, US: This is with reference to “Faith in Obama’s handling of Afghan war at record low: poll” (August 3). There is a component of this war that is largely overlooked — that of treating wounded civilians.

Am I alone in thinking that the richest nation in the world can afford to provide medical care for wounded Afghan civilians, 40 per cent of whom are wounded by Nato action? It is common practice for civilians to be refused care when Nato hospitals enter “condition black” — signifying maximum capacity. This doctrine amounts to triaging patients based on nationality, secondary to medical need.

It is unscrupulous – and likely illegal according to the Geneva Conventions – that we refuse care to war-wounded civilians and immoral to treat them as secondary citizens. Congress must investigate the shameful practice. Certainly the US can do more to relieve suffering and decrease mortality and end this reprehensible act of providing substandard care to the disenfranchised.

These innocent Afghan civilians deserve protection to mitigate needless suffering. Congress may continue to support this unjust war – but end this appalling practice – this policy of neglect

Published in The Express Tribune, August 6^th, 2010.