What do environment-related illnesses tell us about the character of military medicine and future clinical requirements?
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Stacey, Michael
Hill, Neil
Brett, Stephen
Fitchett, G
Woods, David
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Extreme environments present medical and occupational challenges that extend beyond generic resuscitation, to formulating bespoke diagnoses and prognoses and embarking on management pathways rarely encountered in civilian practice. Pathophysiological complexity and clinical uncertainty call for military physicians of all kinds to balance intuition with pragmatism, adapting according to the predominant patterns of care required. In an era of smaller operational footprints and less concentrated clinical experience, proposals aimed at improving the systematic care of Service Personnel incapacitated at environmental extremes must not be lost to corporate memory. These general issues are explored in the particular context of thermal stress and metabolic disruption. Specific focus is given to the accounts of military physicians who served on large-scale deployments into the heat of Iraq and Kuwait (Operation TELIC) and Oman (Exercise SAIF SAREEA). Generalisable insights into the enduring character of military medicine and future clinical requirements result.
Date Issued
2024-01-25
Date Acceptance
2021-10-11
Citation
BMJ Military Health, 2024, 170, pp.43-46
ISSN
2633-3767
Publisher
BMJ Publishing Group
Start Page
43
End Page
46
Journal / Book Title
BMJ Military Health
Volume
170
Copyright Statement
© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2021. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ. This article has been accepted for publication in BMJ Mil Health following peer review. The definitive copyedited, typeset version Stacey MJ, Brett S, Fitchett G, et alWhat do environment-related illnesses tell us about the character of military medicine and future clinical requirements?BMJ Mil Health Published Online First is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjmilitary-2021-001934
Identifier
https://militaryhealth.bmj.com/content/early/2021/10/21/bmjmilitary-2021-001934
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2021-10-22