Medical Draft----is It Coming???

Published

Saw this interesting article on the news today; thought i would share it as many of the nurses in the hospital i work at, don't seem to keep up with current events and they thought i was spreading conspiracy theories :)

(By the way to access the nytimes.com version, you need to register but i just use my spam email address and is not a big deal)

Enjoy...

I apologize in advance; i tried linking the article using the tool on the posting page, but it never worked, so just copy paste url below to get to the full article

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/19/politics/19draft.html?position=&ei=5006&en=eec635035d76fcb0&ex=1098849600&adxnnl=1&partner=ALTAVISTA1&pagewanted=print&adxnnlx=1098198249-OuyZZJvexc1RtO1eFKIUpw

U.S. Has Contingency Plans for a Draft of Medical Workers

By ROBERT PEAR

ASHINGTON, Oct. 18 - The Selective Service has been updating its contingency plans for a draft of doctors, nurses and other health care workers in case of a national emergency that overwhelms the military's medical corps.

In a confidential report this summer, a contractor hired by the agency described how such a draft might work, how to secure compliance and how to mold public opinion and communicate with health care professionals, whose lives could be disrupted.

On the one hand, the report said, the Selective Service System should establish contacts in advance with medical societies, hospitals, schools of medicine and nursing, managed care organizations, rural health care providers and the editors of medical journals and trade publications.

On the other hand, it said, such contacts must be limited, low key and discreet because "overtures from Selective Service to the medical community will be seen as precursors to a draft," and that could alarm the public.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

It would be useful to note that the legislation requiring these updates to the system was passed in 1987. This is not new at all, it is just receiving a lot of press at this time in hopes of fueling fears of the draft being reinstated.

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Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

LOL!!!!!!!! One, anyone that calls will get a sweet answering machine message from my phone! LOL!.."thanks and leave a message!" Yeah like I call back! LOL (hey I am married to a paramedic that gets a notice of mandatory overtime in 24 hours..I know better than to answer a phone!).

But if my county was to ask for me to help...that is my duty, and I would do it as long as it didn't hurt my son (whom I owe my total loyalty too!). But..more than likely it would be my hubby that was called (both Navy corpman [oos] and paramedic).

We had that scare at 9-11...and it was chosen that I stay home, he goes to the call...I guess I will stick with that..at least till my son is able to care for himself...which is 8 years away at best! When it happened, Dvldoc (my hubby) was called for 'indefinate work time'...I understood..was not happy since I was realing in pain and grief...but I understood! My job is at home to care for the family..all of them (mom in law who is ill, my father, my dad in law, my son, my step daughter, my mom, my brother...all of them..not to mention I am godmother to my best friends 3 kids!).

All I know is they can demand if necessary, but I may not answer unless the situtation at my own 'homefront' allows me to answer...if threatened, I can always burn a license! (my family comes first..without them I would have no license!).....

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also from the article:

"under the plan, mr. flahavan said, about 3.4 million male and female health care workers ages 18 to 44 would be expected to register with the selective service. from this pool, he said, the agency could select tens of thousands of health care professionals practicing in 62 health care specialties."

they are evidentally talking about doctors all the way down to medical file clerks.

a document from the dept of defense and the selective service the corroborates the nyt article:

http://www.blatanttruth.org/selective_service091304.pdf

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It would be useful to note that the legislation requiring these updates to the system was passed in 1987. This is not new at all, it is just receiving a lot of press at this time in hopes of fueling fears of the draft being reinstated.

Yes, is receiving so much press that the dozen medical coworkers that I mentioned this article to thought i was going crazy. I'm willing to bet that even though with the so called abundant press coverage about this subject, most medical professionals woudln't know anything about this.....

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

The possibility and repercussions of this (affecting nursing) is being discussed in a rather lively matter in the Current Events board. Never say never! Watch your congressmen/women folks, with a raised hand or stroke of a pen,this CAN become law!

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I'm a vet but I would be glad to volunteer.

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I don't think they'll want me unless there is some crazy baby boom.

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Specializes in ER/Trauma.

I can't remember where but someone posted on another forum I frequent and am a regular at (a site geared towards the military) that the current war is being a big drain on VA and that they are slowly getting overwhelmed.

I don't see nothing TOO wrong at the local VA, but anyone else have ideas on this?

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Let them draft me. I was a jarhead before I was a nurse. I applied to be on the local draft board in my area.

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Specializes in LDRP; Education.

I had registered with the state of Pennsylvania after 9/11 in case they needed extra medical volunteers.

Let them draft me; I would go.

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What is this? MTV? The DNC?

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