Skip to main content
Erschienen in: Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy 4/2016

06.05.2016 | Scientific Contribution

The Separation Wall and the right to healthcare

verfasst von: Melania Borgo, Mario Picozzi

Erschienen in: Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy | Ausgabe 4/2016

Einloggen, um Zugang zu erhalten

Abstract

Nowadays, the concepts of soldier and war have changed due to terrorism and the war on terrorism. According to the literature, to prevent terrorism, it is possible to use more violence, but how can we grant the safety of many versus the dignity of a few? In Israel, in order to protect civilians against possible terrorist attacks, Palestinian ambulances that would reach the Israeli hospitals (or the Palestinian hospitals in East Jerusalem) must be quickly controlled. However, many times, at the checkpoint, patients have to wait for an Israeli vehicle that will take them to Israel. This procedure causes many delays in medical emergency. How to avoid that terrorists may receive better care than Palestinian civilians may just because they are already on the Israeli side of the Separation Wall? How is it possible to ensure the life and safety of many, without denying the right to healthcare to somebody? How to decide when the State requirements conflict with traditional medical duties? Is it acceptable to provide health care to a terrorist? What should be done when it is uncertain whether the ambulance transports weapons besides patients? These questions call upon the core role of the doctor and of the medical profession: taking care of all sick persons. The care is the starting point of ethics. If we do not care about other human beings we do not have a real moral comprehension of any human ideal or action. For this reason we can say that the care is the premise of morality. The rights of all citizens, including the claim to public security, grounds on the care for each individual who needs help.
Fußnoten
1
On 29 November 1947 the United Nations defined the new boundaries of the historical Palestine: the land allocated to the Arab State (West Bank and Gaza) included about 43 % while the Jewish State (Israel) was to receive 56 % of historical Palestine. “The City of Jerusalem shall be established as a corpus separatum under a special international regime and shall be administered by the United Nations”. http://​domino.​un.​org/​unispal.​nsf/​0/​7f0af2bd897689b7​85256c330061d253​. Accessed 3 January 2016.
 
2
The Magen David Adom is Israel’s national emergency medical and ambulance service. The name means “Red Star of David”, according to the Judaism symbol. Since June 2006, MDA has been recognized by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
 
3
The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), officially founded in December 1968, is a national humanitarian organization that caters to the health and welfare of the Palestinian people and others in need in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and the Diaspora. PRCS is part of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) that was founded in 1919.
 
4
The aim of this document is to improve communications and collaboration between PRCS and MDA and to promote freedom of movement of Red Crescent ambulances in the Occupied Territories, including East Jerusalem (the main metropolitan reference area for the Palestinians and the only area where technology and tertiary services are available).
 
5
According to this second unofficial negotiation, information about crew and “authorized” ambulances should be forwarded to checkpoint commanders in order to facilitate their passage.
 
6
In emergencies, it may happen that the Palestinian doctor is not available, thus resulting in more and more increased delay (Weingarten 2007, pp. 27–30), waiting to get required information. Nevertheless, as reported by the Procedure for Processing a Resident of the Judea and Samaria Area Arriving at Checkpoint in an Urgent Medical Situation (Weingarten 2007, p. 26; a document drafted during the course of the Supreme Court Petition (HCJ 9109/06) in accordance also with the MoU and with the international law), the PRCS may refuse this procedure and ask that every ambulance on emergency freely reaches hospitals over the Separation Wall.
 
Literatur
Zurück zum Zitat Ashcroft, Richard. 2009. The psychology of repugnance and the duty to trust. The American Journal of Bioethics 9(10): 51–52.CrossRef Ashcroft, Richard. 2009. The psychology of repugnance and the duty to trust. The American Journal of Bioethics 9(10): 51–52.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Beauchamp, Tom L., and Lauranec B. McCullough. 1984. Medical ethics: The moral responsibilities of physicians. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall. Beauchamp, Tom L., and Lauranec B. McCullough. 1984. Medical ethics: The moral responsibilities of physicians. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Zurück zum Zitat Childress, James F. 2004. Triage in response to a bioterrorist attack. In In the wake of terror. Medicine and mortality in a time of crisis, ed. Jonathan D. Moreno, 77–93. Cambridge: The MIT Press. Childress, James F. 2004. Triage in response to a bioterrorist attack. In In the wake of terror. Medicine and mortality in a time of crisis, ed. Jonathan D. Moreno, 77–93. Cambridge: The MIT Press.
Zurück zum Zitat Cornellise, Galina. 2010. Immigration detention and human rights. Rethinking territorial sovereignty. Leiden: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers.CrossRef Cornellise, Galina. 2010. Immigration detention and human rights. Rethinking territorial sovereignty. Leiden: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Davis, Michael. 2009. Terrorists are just patients. The American Journal of Bioethics 9(10): 56–57.CrossRef Davis, Michael. 2009. Terrorists are just patients. The American Journal of Bioethics 9(10): 56–57.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Dershowitz, Alan Morton. 2002. Why terrorism works. Understanding the threat, responding to the challenge. London: Yale University Press. Dershowitz, Alan Morton. 2002. Why terrorism works. Understanding the threat, responding to the challenge. London: Yale University Press.
Zurück zum Zitat Devi, Sharmila. 2007. Health in the west bank. Lancet 370: 1405–1406.CrossRef Devi, Sharmila. 2007. Health in the west bank. Lancet 370: 1405–1406.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Footer, Katherine H.A., and Leonard S. Rubenstein. 2013. A human rights approach to health care in conflict. International Review of the Red Cross 95(889): 167–187.CrossRef Footer, Katherine H.A., and Leonard S. Rubenstein. 2013. A human rights approach to health care in conflict. International Review of the Red Cross 95(889): 167–187.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Gesundheit, Benjamin, Nachman Ash, Shraga Blazer, and Avraham I. Rivkind. 2009. Medical care for terrorists—To treat or not to treat? The American Journal of Bioethics 9(10): 40–42.CrossRef Gesundheit, Benjamin, Nachman Ash, Shraga Blazer, and Avraham I. Rivkind. 2009. Medical care for terrorists—To treat or not to treat? The American Journal of Bioethics 9(10): 40–42.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Gross, Michael L. 2004. Bioethics and armed conflict: Mapping the moral dimensions of medicine and war. Hastings Center Report 34(6): 22–30.CrossRef Gross, Michael L. 2004. Bioethics and armed conflict: Mapping the moral dimensions of medicine and war. Hastings Center Report 34(6): 22–30.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Gross, Michael L. 2006. Bioethics and armed conflict. Moral dilemmas of medicine and war. Cambridge: The MIT Press. Gross, Michael L. 2006. Bioethics and armed conflict. Moral dilemmas of medicine and war. Cambridge: The MIT Press.
Zurück zum Zitat Gross, Michael L. 2010. Moral dilemmas of modern war. Torture, assassination, and blackmail in an age of asymmetric conflict. New York: Cambridge University Press. Gross, Michael L. 2010. Moral dilemmas of modern war. Torture, assassination, and blackmail in an age of asymmetric conflict. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Zurück zum Zitat Howe, Eric Graham. 2003. Point/counterpoint—A response to Drs Sidel and Levy (Physician–soldier: A moral dilemma). In Military medical ethics, ed. Thomas E. Beam, and Linette R. Sparacino, 312–320. Falls Church, VA: Office of the Surgeon General. Howe, Eric Graham. 2003. Point/counterpoint—A response to Drs Sidel and Levy (Physician–soldier: A moral dilemma). In Military medical ethics, ed. Thomas E. Beam, and Linette R. Sparacino, 312–320. Falls Church, VA: Office of the Surgeon General.
Zurück zum Zitat Jotkowitz, Alan, and Shaul Sofer. 2009. Ethical caring and the treatment of terrorists. The American Journal of Bioethics 9(10): 55–56.CrossRef Jotkowitz, Alan, and Shaul Sofer. 2009. Ethical caring and the treatment of terrorists. The American Journal of Bioethics 9(10): 55–56.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat List, Justin M. 2008. Medical neutrality and political activism: Physicians’ role in conflict situation in physicians at war. New York: Springer. List, Justin M. 2008. Medical neutrality and political activism: Physicians’ role in conflict situation in physicians at war. New York: Springer.
Zurück zum Zitat Liek, Erwin. 1925. Die Entseelung der Heilkunde. Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschrift 36: 1520–1521. Liek, Erwin. 1925. Die Entseelung der Heilkunde. Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschrift 36: 1520–1521.
Zurück zum Zitat London, Leslie, Leronard S. Rubenstein, Laurel Baldwin-Ragaven, and Adriaan Van Es. 2006. Dual loyalty among military health professionals: Human rights and ethics in times of armed conflict. Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics 15: 381–391.CrossRef London, Leslie, Leronard S. Rubenstein, Laurel Baldwin-Ragaven, and Adriaan Van Es. 2006. Dual loyalty among military health professionals: Human rights and ethics in times of armed conflict. Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics 15: 381–391.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Lunstroth, John. 2009. The obligations of health workers to “terrorists”. The American Journal of Bioethics 9(10): 45–48.CrossRef Lunstroth, John. 2009. The obligations of health workers to “terrorists”. The American Journal of Bioethics 9(10): 45–48.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Pellegrino, Edmund D., and David C. Thomasma. 1993. The virtues in medical practice. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Pellegrino, Edmund D., and David C. Thomasma. 1993. The virtues in medical practice. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Zurück zum Zitat Reich, Warren T. 2001. The care-based ethic of Nazi medicine and the moral importance of what we care about. The American Journal of Bioethics 1(1): 64–74.CrossRef Reich, Warren T. 2001. The care-based ethic of Nazi medicine and the moral importance of what we care about. The American Journal of Bioethics 1(1): 64–74.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Rubenstein, Leonard S. 2015. Punishing health care providers for treating terrorists. Access to health care is a requirement of justice, even in wartime. Hastings Center Report 45(4): 13–16.CrossRef Rubenstein, Leonard S. 2015. Punishing health care providers for treating terrorists. Access to health care is a requirement of justice, even in wartime. Hastings Center Report 45(4): 13–16.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Singh, Jerome A. 2003. Military tribunals at Guantanamo Bay: Dual loyalty conflicts. Lancet 362: 573.CrossRef Singh, Jerome A. 2003. Military tribunals at Guantanamo Bay: Dual loyalty conflicts. Lancet 362: 573.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Sennett, Richard. 2008. L’uomo artigiano. Milano: Feltrinelli 2010. [The craftsman, New Haven & London: Yale University Press]. Sennett, Richard. 2008. L’uomo artigiano. Milano: Feltrinelli 2010. [The craftsman, New Haven & London: Yale University Press].
Zurück zum Zitat Shauer, Ayelet, and Hadar Ziv. 2003. Conflict and public health: Report from Physician for Human Rights-Israel. Lancet 361: 1221.CrossRef Shauer, Ayelet, and Hadar Ziv. 2003. Conflict and public health: Report from Physician for Human Rights-Israel. Lancet 361: 1221.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Sidel, Victor W., and Barry S. Levy. 2003. Physician–soldier: A moral dilemma. In Military medical ethics, ed. Thomas E. Beam, and Linette R. Sparacino, 293–312. Falls Church, VA: Office of the Surgeon General. Sidel, Victor W., and Barry S. Levy. 2003. Physician–soldier: A moral dilemma. In Military medical ethics, ed. Thomas E. Beam, and Linette R. Sparacino, 293–312. Falls Church, VA: Office of the Surgeon General.
Zurück zum Zitat United Nations. September 2011. Movement and access in the West Bank. In Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs occupied Palestinian territory (Source Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)), West Bank: Movement and access update, September 2011—OCHA report. Accessed 3 Jan 2016. United Nations. September 2011. Movement and access in the West Bank. In Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs occupied Palestinian territory (Source Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)), West Bank: Movement and access update, September 2011—OCHA report. Accessed 3 Jan 2016.
Zurück zum Zitat Viskin, Sami. 2003. Shooting at ambulances in Israel: A cardiologist’s viewpoint. Lancet 361: 1470–1471.CrossRef Viskin, Sami. 2003. Shooting at ambulances in Israel: A cardiologist’s viewpoint. Lancet 361: 1470–1471.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Wilks, Michael. 2005. A stain on medical ethics. Lancet 366: 429–431.CrossRef Wilks, Michael. 2005. A stain on medical ethics. Lancet 366: 429–431.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Zivotofsky, Ari Z. 2009. Medical care of terrorists is beyond the letter of the law. The American Journal of Bioethics 9(10): 43–45.CrossRef Zivotofsky, Ari Z. 2009. Medical care of terrorists is beyond the letter of the law. The American Journal of Bioethics 9(10): 43–45.CrossRef
Metadaten
Titel
The Separation Wall and the right to healthcare
verfasst von
Melania Borgo
Mario Picozzi
Publikationsdatum
06.05.2016
Verlag
Springer Netherlands
Erschienen in
Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy / Ausgabe 4/2016
Print ISSN: 1386-7423
Elektronische ISSN: 1572-8633
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11019-016-9707-4

Weitere Artikel der Ausgabe 4/2016

Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy 4/2016 Zur Ausgabe