Military medicine

International humanitarian law makes no distinction between medical personnel who are members of the armed forces (and who hold military ranks) and those who are civilian volunteers.

The significance of military medicine for combat strength goes far beyond treatment of battlefield injuries; in every major war fought until the late 19th century disease claimed more soldier casualties than did enemy action.

During the American Civil War (1860–65), for example, about twice as many soldiers died of disease as were killed or mortally wounded in combat.

[2] In new world countries, such as Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Canada, military physicians and surgeons contributed significantly to the development of civilian health care.

[4][7][8] One such practice is where major trauma patients are transferred to an operating theater as soon as possible, to stop internal bleeding, increasing the survival rate.

French surgeon Ambroise Paré ( c. 1510 –1590) – known as the "Father of Military Medicine" [ citation needed ] – attending to a soldier's amputated leg.
Two French military surgeons treating wounded enemies after the battle of Inkermann, November 5, 1854.
WWII era field hospital re-created operating tent using puppets, Diekirch Military Museum, Luxembourg
A U.S. Combat Support Hospital (CSH), a type of mobile field hospital , used in war or disasters; successor to the Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH)
Norwegian NORMASH personnel during the Korean War
Medical staff aboard the US hospital ship USNS Mercy
The US hospital ship USNS Mercy marked with the red cross , the international protective sign
U.S. Army medical personnel train local Uzbek anesthesia providers at the Fergana Emergency Center in support of Operation Provide Hope .
German Kosovo Force armoured medical transport, marked with the protective sign
Air ambulance of the Royal Australian Air Force in 1943, marked with the protective sign
Miloš L (UGV) , a military robot for evacuating the wounded from the battlefield.