Resource Scarcity in Austere Environments: An Ethical Examination of Triage and Medical Rules of Eligibility (Military and Humanitarian Health Ethics)

This book focuses on resource allocation in military and humanitarian medicine during times of scarcity and austerity. It is in these times that health systems bend, break, and even collapse and where resource allocation becomes a paramount concern and directly impacts clinical decision-making. Such times are challenging and this book  covers this very important, yet, scarcely researched topic within the field of bioethics. This work brings together experts and practitioners in the fields of military health care, philosophy, ethics, and other disciplines to provide analysis on a variety of related topics ranging from case studies and first-hand experiences to policy and philosophical analysis. It is of great interest to to academics, practitioners, policy makers and students who are looking for analyses and guidance regarding the fair provision of medical care and the use of medical rules of eligibility under adverse conditions.

Sheena M. Eagan is an Assistant Professor of Bioethics in the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. She is also head of the North Carolina Unit of the International Chair of Bioethics/WMA Cooperating Center and founding president of the American Society of Bioethics and Humanities group for Military, Humanitarian and Disaster Medicine. Dr. Eagan holds a PhD in the medical humanities from the University of Texas Medical Branch as well as a Master of Public Health from the Uniformed Services University. Her research and teaching have focused on medical ethics and the history of medicine, with a subspecialized focus on military medicine and Veteran health.

Daniel Messelken is a research associate at the Center for Ethics at Zurich University and leader of the Zurich Center for Military Medical Ethics. He also serves as Head Ethics Teacher for the Center of Reference for Education on IHL and Ethics of the International Committee of Military Medicine and is member of the Board of Directors of the International Society for Military Ethics in Europe (EuroISME). Dr. Messelken studied Philosophy and Political Science in Leipzig and Paris (1998-2004) and received his PhD in philosophy from the University of Leipzig in 2010. Besides Military Medical Ethics, his main research fields include Just War Theory, the Morality of Violence, Military Ethics, and Applied Ethics more generally.