A recent article in The BMJ draws attention to concerns about violations of medical neutrality during the ongoing protests in Iran. The authors describe reports of injured protestors being targeted or discouraged from seeking medical care, as well as pressure and intimidation directed at healthcare professionals providing treatment.
Medical neutrality is a core ethical principle that protects both patients and healthcare workers, particularly during times of unrest. When access to care is obstructed or clinicians are threatened for fulfilling their professional duties, it raises serious ethical and humanitarian concerns.
We encourage readers to review the publication to better understand the medical and human rights implications discussed in the article.