Case and Commentary: Ethical Implications of Combat Medic Training in Wartime

The full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 launched years of large-scale combat operations, requiring rapid and recurrent generation of combat medical capabilities in order to maintain the fighting force. The operational requirements drove changes in the training and development of combat medics serving on the front lines. Duration of training was significantly shortened, resulting in challenging decision making on which skills to prioritize within the time available. Ethical principles of beneficence and nonmaleficence must be considered when operational requirements drive modifications of combat medic training.