Citation

Cassel CK. J. Am. Med. Assoc. JAMA 1989; 261(4): 628-629.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1989, American Medical Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

11644364

Abstract

Cassel reviews Selection of Casualties for Treatment After Nuclear Attack (British Medical Association; 1988), issued by the BMA's Board of Science and Education. The publication contains a detailed set of guidelines for medical triage after a "limited" nuclear attack on England resulting in millions of dead and seriously injured, and an analysis of the ethical issues in triage and treatment choices. Cassel questions the ethical underpinnings of the report's recommendations on selecting persons for treatment according to social usefulness. Her major concern about the BMA document, however, is that it may mislead people into believing that nuclear war is an eventuality that can be planned for rather than a threat that must be prevented.

Language: en