Ethical issues regarding mixed agency of military physicians

Military physicians' obligations to the military may compete with or even override their obligations to patients, especially during combat. Doctor/patient trust may be impaired when the soldier/patient's interests conflict with those of the military and the physician's loyalty is uncertain, and when the military physician treats civilians in occupied territories during mass casualties or, in part, for political gain. When the military physician is asked to perform research which could potentially be utilized for offensive purposes, obligations to the medical profession or to humanity may take precedence over his obligations to the military.