History Main / ShootTheMedicFirst

* IDF snipers target medics at the Gaza border protest of 2018. One victim, Razan al-Najjar, IDF claimed it was an accident, then claimed she was a terrorist. Furthermore, the IDF policy of "Shoot to Wound" complements the killing of medics by making medical staff more in demand.

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* TruthInTelevision: the Japanese in UsefulNotes/WorldWarII (having no medics themselves) were infamous for targeting medics. They didn't sign the Geneva Conventions until 1953.

* Attempted by an Iraqi sniper during combat operations in Iraq. He had targeted a USMC Corpsman, and aimed center-mass. The round hit the [[BulletProofVest body armor]] of the Marine in question, saving his life. What's funny is that not only did the corpsman live through the event, he got back up, took cover behind his vehicle, [[CombatMedic returned fire]], wounded the sniper in question, and then proceeded to ''treat the very person who just minutes ago tried to kill him''. The whole incident was recorded by the Sniper in question, and can be viewed [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-UNFSZ8VKU here]].

** It's fair to note RidiculouslyCuteCritter (and doctor) Chopper is usually the first crew mate to be taken out leaving the crew without medical care. When Chopper is cut down in the Skypiea arc MasterSwordsmen, Zoro lets out some TranquilFury on the guy who did it.e

[[quoteright:230:[[Webcomic/PennyArcade https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/shoot.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:228:[[VideoGame/TeamFortress2 GET BEHIND ME, DOKTOR!]]]]

* In ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'', the Vandenreich member [[spoiler:Mask De Masculine has the Sobriquet "The Superstar", which means he [[HeroicSecondWind Hulks Out]], becoming much stronger and healing from all damage, when he's cheered and applauded. His {{Sidekick}} named "James" has to be taken out first for this very reason, although that information came too late for five shinigami opponents. Unfortunately for the heroes, this is easier said than done, as James can regenerate from almost anything, even being chopped to pieces.]]

* In ''LightNovel/GrimgarOfFantasyAndAsh'', the [[WhiteMage priests]] are often targeted in battle. Enemies are generally smart enough to realise that killing the healer will seriously hinder a party's chances of survival. Therefore, the physical fighters must protect the party's healer while also damaging enemies.
* In ''LightNovel/HighSchoolDXD'', the enemy aims for [[TheMedic Asia]] the first chance they get, and the heroes know it and take measures to make sure she's protected.

* More often than not, Princess Amelia from ''LightNovel/{{Slayers}}'' usually winds up as the first target when the main party faces a major foe (if not her, heavy-hitting magic user Lina is the first target). Amelia is a [[BarefistedMonk monk]] variant of a MagicKnight, but when Sylphiel, who is more this trope (and downright horrible with offensive magic), is not with them, she serves as the group's healer.
* ''LightNovel/SwordArtOnline'': In the Mother's Rosario arc, when Asuna and the Sleeping Knights have to fight against another clan for the right to challenge the floor's boss, Asuna quickly realizes she has to take out the healers first so they won't waste anymore of their time. Though to reach them she first needs to [[FoeTossingCharge charge through the enemies between them, knocking them away]].

* Inverted in ''Literature/{{Twilight}}'' with Carlisle. The Quileute have a standing policy that he is the lowest-priority target if the two groups should ever escalate to open war against each other. (Since he's a regular doctor, without any magical healing abilities, this makes sense.)

-->-- '''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'''

-->-- '''Team Fortress 2'''

** Inverted when fighting Grey Knights. See, the medics we described above can't save allies from OneHitKill attacks. A Grey Knight Paladin will normally die in two hits and has such strong armor that those hits rarely deal actual damage; as a result, most players will stack what few OneHitKill attacks they have onto any Paladin in sight, thus giving the [[CombatMedic Apothecary]] no chance to save him. Said Apothecary becomes AwesomeButImpractical, and thus a low-priority target, in a codex otherwise considered a GameBreaker and TierInducedScrappy.

* In the ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'' manga Doctor Marcoh uses a Philosopher's Stone to heal an incapacitated ally mid-battle. When Pride figures out what's happening he starts attacking Marcoh instead of his more dangerous and battle-ready opponents Alphonse and Heinkel.

** It's fair to note RidiculouslyCuteCritter (and doctor) Chopper is usually the first crew mate to be taken out leaving the crew without medical care. When Chopper is cut down in the Skypeia arc MasterSwordsmen Zoro lets out some TranquilFury on the guy who did it.
** In the long battle of Dressrosa, little dwarf princess Mansherry (more like a fairy) has SwissArmyTears which the villains plan to uses on their fallen comrades. While the heroes target Mansherry they rescue her instead of hurting her, somewhat inverting this trope.

DrawAggro is a useful way to [[DefiedTrope defy this]], as long as it's not the medic drawing the enemy attention.

In RealLife war, [[TheMedic medics]] are supposed to be special: UsefulNotes/TheLawsAndCustomsOfWar, specifically the Geneva Convention, dictate that medical personnel are non-combatants and shooting one is a serious war crime. So is impersonating one so that the enemy won't shoot you. And it's just as illegal for a medic [[CombatMedic to shoot at you]] — while they have weapons to defend themselves with, [[ScrewTheRulesTheyBrokeThemFirst the moment they initiate combat, they are classed as combatants and can be freely shot at in response.]]

In RealLife war, [[TheMedic medics]] are supposed to be special: UsefulNotes/TheLawsAndCustomsOfWar, specifically the Geneva Convention, dictate that medical personnel are non-combatants and shooting one is a serious [[ObligatoryWarCrimeScene war crime]]. So is impersonating one so that the enemy won't shoot you. And it's just as illegal for a medic [[CombatMedic to shoot at you]] — while they have weapons to defend themselves with, [[ScrewTheRulesTheyBrokeThemFirst the moment they initiate combat, they are classed as combatants and can be freely shot at in response.]]

* As shown in the page quote, Creator/BillCosby has a stand-up routine based on his time in the navy and his decision to become a corpsman as he thought it meant he wouldn't get shot at. His instructors quickly disabused him of this notion.

* Inverted in ''Literature/{{Twilight}}'' with Carlisle. The Quileute have a standing policy that he is the lowest-priority target if the two groups should ever escalate to open war against each other.

->''"I want to show you this picture here. You'll notice that the corpsmen are dropping like flies. That's because the enemy is not upholding the Geneva Convention... The first thing they try and get, actually, is the hospital corpsmen, and actually the lifespan of a hospital corpsman, from the time his foot hits the water to the time he '''almost''' gets to the beach, is -- uh -- seven seconds."''
-->-- '''Creator/BillCosby''', "Medic!", ''I Started Out as a Child''