RECOMMENDATIONS

The South African Medical Service (SAMS) should limit itself to providing medical care, and forensic services when needed for purposes of military administration, to members of the armed services and their dependents. In the event of armed conflict, it is legitimate, indeed required by medical ethics⁹ and international humanitarian law, for military doctors to treat sick and injured civilians and members of opposing forces. Absent such conditions, SAMS should not function as a civilian health services provider. The role conflict problems inherent in military medicine, which were demonstrated with particular force by SAMS' performance during the apartheid era, weigh heavily in favor of these limits on the role of military medicine. The responsibilities in this area that SAMS currently exercises should be turned over to civilian medical institutions. Moreover, SAMS should be clearly proscribed by statute from participating in any manner in the development of biological or other weapons technologies that draw upon medical knowledge.

NOTES

⁹ World Medical Association. Regulations in Time of Armed Conflict.