HNRS 2011 Present "The Enemy"

In “The Enemy,” a story set in Japan during World War II, a wounded American washes up on the beach near the home of a respected Japanese surgeon. This surgeon—who currently works for a high-powered military General—must decide whether to take care of this enemy airmen. Our reading of Pearl Buck’s “The Enemy” will explore issues related to military medical ethics, including the ethics of treating enemy combatants.

According to the Geneva conventions, injured combatants must be offered aid—whether friend or foe, they are to be helped and not harmed. However, the realities of war create scenarios that challenge this universalist principle. Military physicians often feel conflicted when it comes to treating the enemy, finding it hard to set aside personal emotions related to lost friends, and the realities of nationalism in wartimes. We will explore the ethical issues and arguments surrounding the treatment of wounded enemy soldiers: who should be cared for first—compatriots or enemies? Discussion will draw connections between the issues raise in this short-story (set in WWII) with contemporary issues in battlefield medicine and war-time triage.

Time: Nov 8th: 2-315pm

Location: Brewster B304