text: Army Health System and the Effects of the Law of Land Warfare and Medical Ethics
  ENEMY WOUNDED AND SICK
  3-6. The protections accorded the wounded and sick apply to friend and foe alike without distinction.
  Certain provisions of the GWS; however, specifically concern enemy wounded and sick. There are also
  provisions in the GPW which, because they apply to prisoners of war generally, also apply to enemy wounded
  or sick.
  * Article 14 of the GWS states that persons who are wounded and then captured have the status of
  prisoners of war, however, that wounded soldier is also a person who needs treatment. Therefore,
  a wounded soldier who falls into the hands of an enemy who is a Party to the GWS and the GPW,
  such as the U.S., will enjoy protection under both Conventions until his recovery. The GWS will
  take precedence over the GPW where the two overlap.
  * Article 16 of the GWS requires the recording and forwarding of information regarding enemy
  wounded, sick, or dead. (See AR 190-8 and FM 3-63 for disposition of detainees after hospital
  care.)
  * When intelligence indicates that large numbers of detainees may result from an operation, medical
  units may require reinforcement to support the anticipated additional detainee patient workload.
  SEARCH FOR AND COLLECTION OF CASUALTIES
  3-7. Article 15 of the GWS imposes a duty on combatants to search for and collect the dead and wounded
  and sick as soon as circumstances permit. It is left to the operational commander to judge what is possible
  and to decide to commit the commander’s medical personnel to this effort. If circumstances permit, an
  armistice or suspension of fire should be arranged to permit this effort.
  ASSISTANCE OF THE CIVILIAN POPULATION
  3-8. Article 18, GWS, addresses the civilian population. It allows a belligerent to ask the civilians to collect
  and care for wounded or sick of whatever nationality. This provision does not relieve the military authorities
  of their responsibility to give both physical and moral care to the wounded and sick. The GWS also reminds
  the civilian population that they must respect the wounded and sick, and in particular, must not injure them.
  ENEMY CIVILIAN WOUNDED AND SICK
  3-9. Certain provisions of the Geneva Conventions are relevant to the medical mission.
  * Article 16 of the GC provides that enemy civilians who are “…wounded and sick, as well as the
  infirm, and expectant mothers, shall be the object of particular protection and respect.” The Article
  also requires that, “As far as military considerations allow, each Party to the conflict shall facilitate
  the steps taken to search for the killed and wounded [civilians], to assist…other persons exposed
  to grave danger, and to protect them against pillage and ill-treatment [emphasis added].”
   The “protection and respect” to which wounded and sick enemy civilians are entitled is the
  same as that accorded to wounded and sick enemy military personnel.
   While Article 15 of the GWS requires Parties to a conflict to search for and collect the dead,
  wounded, and sick members of the armed forces, Article 16 of the GC states that the Parties
  must “facilitate the steps taken” in regard to civilians. This recognizes the fact that saving
  civilians is the responsibility of the civilian authorities rather than of the military. The military
  is not required to provide injured civilians with medical care in a combat zone, however, if
  we start providing treatment, we are bound by the provisions of the GWS. Provisions for
  treating civilians (enemy or friendly) will be addressed in EAB regulations.
  * In occupied territories, the Occupying Power must accord the inhabitants numerous protections as
  required by the GC. The provisions relevant to medical care include:
   Requirement to bring in medical supplies for the population if the resources of the occupied
  territory are inadequate.
   Prohibition on requisitioning medical supplies unless the requirements of the civilian
  population have been taken into account.