Which LOAC requirement applies to medical units and personnel in the field?

• A. Protect medical units, personnel, and facilities; ensure neutral, respectful care; prohibit targeting medical staff; handle wounded and sick impartially while maintaining security.
• B. Prohibit providing care to enemy combatants.
• C. Ensure medical staff may be targeted when defending a mission.
• D. Deny care to civilians.

Answer: (A)

In LOAC, medical units and personnel in the field are protected and must operate in a neutral and impartial manner. The statement that captures this protection includes keeping medical units, personnel, and facilities safe from attack; ensuring care is neutral and respectful toward all patients; prohibiting any targeting of medical staff; and treating the wounded and sick impartially while keeping security. This reflects the obligation to safeguard medical services so they can function regardless of which side a person belongs to, and to provide care based on medical need rather than allegiance.

Denying care to civilians, or allowing targeting of medical personnel, runs directly counter to these protections. Similarly, suggesting that care cannot be provided to enemy combatants contradicts the impartial humanitarian duty to treat the wounded and sick without discrimination.