Medical Voices for Human Rights and The Right to Medical Care.
Statement of the BeSARPP (Belgian Society of Anesthesiology, Resuscitation, Perioperative Medicine and Pain Management)
The current conflicts in Europe, the Middle East, and other regions around the world are deeply distressing. These are complex, polarizing, and emotionally charged crises in which countless innocent lives are being lost, and human suffering is immense.
As a medical society, we are not aligned with any political stance, ideology, or party. Our responsibility lies with the preservation of human life, human dignity and acces to medical care. These Principles are rooted in the Hippocratic Oath that unite physicians and healthcare professionals across the globe.
We reaffirm our ethical commitment:
- To respect human life to the fullest.
- To care for patients without discrimination based on age, illness or disability, religion, ethnic origin, gender, nationality, political beliefs, race, sexual orientation, social status, or any other factor.
We are gravely concerned about continued violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. Civilians, including children, women, and humanitarian workers, have suffered disproportionate harm. Medical facilities and personnel have come under attack or been denied access, while the use of civilian infrastructure for military purposes further endangers innocent lives.
As physicians and healthcare professionals, we believe:
- All deliberate attacks on civilians and medical infrastructure are unacceptable and may constitute war crimes.
- Medical neutrality must be respected in every conflict zone.
- Access to medical care is a basic humanitarian right that must never be obstructed.
We therefore call for:
- The immediate protection of civilians, healthcare personnel, and medical facilities, in full compliance with international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions.
- Free, safe, and unhindered access for medical and humanitarian aid.
- Independent investigations into alleged violations of human rights and humanitarian law by all parties involved.
- Proactive engagement by Belgian, European and other international diplomatic bodies to uphold humanitarian principles and the safety of medical operations.
We stand not with any side in these conflicts, but with the victims. Our voice is one of compassion, medical ethics, and human rights.
Silence is agreement. Medicine must speak out when lives are being destroyed.
On behalf of the BeSARPP board,
Luc De Baerdemaeker
President of BeSARPP