Disaster medicine-the veterinarian's role

摘要

By "disaster medicine" we mean the efforts (organized, it is to be hoped) that are taken to save human and animal lives after a natural force (eg, fire, water, wind, earthquake, or landslide) or a man-made force has destroyed and injured lives and disrupted the environment. What is the veterinarian's role in a major disaster and what legal issues may arise from his or her participation? That legal issues may arise is well illustrated by remarks of Dr. D. C. Blenden, School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Missouri, appearing in the Dec 15, 1965 JAVMA (pp 1515-1521). He identified 4 stages of the "disaster syndrome." First, people are dazed, stunned, and apathetic. Then they become extremely suggestible and grateful—after which a mild euphoria settles over them, bringing feelings of brotherhood and minimization of personal losses. But after these phases, complaints and criticisms set in. People become acutely aware of personal losses, injuries, and of what they may consider to have beeninadequate or negligent care.