Watching this wonderful documentary was very emotional. Not only did I feel a surge of pride to be Canadian but it also allowed me, a civilian, to have an inside view as to what my spouse is going to do over there. He is a military physician who is heading overseas in September. While he can try to explain his duties and share stories with me, watching your documentary actually allowed me to see it and unexpectantly feel it.

There was a lack of acknowledgment and recognition to the unmentioned staff. The team comprises of cleaners to doctors, all important and all vital to a successful team.

Thank you for allowing me to gain knowledge and insight into this silent but essential part of Canada's mission.

I was interested in watching this special for a while, but always decided on a later time. I just recently got back from Afghanistan a month ago from the ROTO 0307 (aug 07- mar 08) and just wanting to spend time with family and friends before looking back at what I went through.

I have to admit that I wasn't prepared for what I saw on the program. 9 of the 11 Canadians injured that were presented, came from my unit and we (the rest of us of the Engineers from the FOB'S) never knew what happened to our guys when they were airlifted out. It brought back the pain on losing some of my buddies but helps as well by knowing that it's now over, that we had done what was asked of us by doing our job as best as we could.

The public often ask me if we should be there in Afghanistan and I say yes because we are helping this country get on their feet. But for me, it has become a personal matter, for if we choose to leave too soon and Afghanistan falls once more, then all of our effort that we have been putting will all have been done for nothing and worst, that my friends would have died for nothing.

This was a wonderful, thought-provoking piece, and I'm glad it was done. Every day I hear people complain about our Canadian soldiers being in Afghanistan when it's solely about the US and their oil issues.

What I think people are forgetting is that Afghanistan asked for our (NATO's) help. They are also forgetting the human tole left behind after the "issues" have been dealt with (not that these issues have been dealt with, by any means). I also think people either don't realize, or have forgotten, that before the Taliban took over, women were actually allowed to lead lives in Afghanistan.

I wonder how Canadian women would feel if they woke up one morning to find rules posted on every street corner telling us what we could and couldn't (mostly couldn't) do anymore. I am so proud to be a Canadian right now, and to know that our forces are trying to help Afghanistan regain a sense of balance for their country (for both male and female members).

Lastly, I don't think North Americans realize that for most of the Middle East, there is no such thing as government without religion - they can't even fathom a separation of the two. We've never experienced that, so can't even begin to wrap our minds around a concept such as that.

Kudos to CBC for having the courage to document this and present it. (PS - I'd like more coverage on the medics from the front lines as well - as requested by another post-er - especially since I have a family member who is a medic at the front lines in Afghanistan right now).

Thank you for producing this doc. This, and other other docs of it's type, should be played as much as possible on TV so that Canadians can get a better idea of what is going on in Afghanistan.

Maybe it will be harder to cut and run if people get to see the difference that our soldiers and a few dedicated civilians are making.

Some people have complained that this doc doesn't cover enough. As true as that is you've done a fine job so far. I hope The Fifth Estate will try to produce more pieces like this to give Canadians a full picture of what is going on there.

I would suggest following around the Medtecs, Provincal Reconstruction Teams and the soldiers on the ground. Show every aspect that you possibly can in an unbiased and honest way.

After watching this documentary, and also reading 15 days by Christing Blanchford, it only made me prouder of what our people are doing over there. I come from a Military Family, where a Great Uncle died at the Somme. My Father was a Wireless Operator in the RCAF, and now it's my turn. As I am a Nurse, I would gladly go over instead of my two Sons.

I have been asked numerous times whether I could hold a rifle and shoot someone just because I signed up. I always answer I will do what I have to do, then treat the wounded. As I see it, my job (as Nurse and Mother) is to get these folks home to their Mothers and Fathers in as good as shape as I would want mine sent home to me. PERIOD. My job would not be to debate Politics.

With this Documentary, it would have been more educational if there was a "Follow-through" of one of the Cases, from the Medics through to the Hospital. Of course Patient confidentiality would factor in to this, but the impact as an educational tool would be great.

Kudos to our People over there and hope to see you soon,
keep doing the wonderful job you're so great at!!!!!!
And to the SGT/MAJ, I hope I get the chance to work with you, you have a huge heart. Thanks.

this was a moving and thought provoking documentary. thank you. I did wonder why the front line medics' views and thoughts were not presented as they are the professionals who stabilize the injured so that they can get to the military hospital? But thank you CBC.

It was a real eye opener for family and friends. This was only the tip of the iceberg of many events that took place at the hospital.
Many interviews were conducted, but not all could be in this documentary.
The documentary was about the Role 3 Multinational Medical Unit in KAF, not Role 1. I understand that it was a 45 min show, and there was many hours of footage. Maybe this could have had a part 1 of 2 or 3 shows.
The hospital would not function well if it were not for the hard work and dedication of the Med Techs. They are the backbone, and without them the hospital would not function.
While in KAF, the CBC crew were put to work during a MASCAL, they carried stretcher and assisted on the flight line with walking wounded. This gave them opportunity to feel what our Med Techs experienced daily.
The Med Tech from Role 1 and Role 3 are the reason that most patients are alive today. They are the best at what they do, and it would have been much better to see them in action. This would be more realistic then watching a doctor cut off clothes during a trauma(happened only while cameras were taping).
The Med Techs are the best in the world, and should be proud of what they do, past, present and future. It does not take a show to tell us that, but it would have been nice.

Roto 4 CSM

This story focused on a very important aspect of the health care in Kandahar not only for the coaliation forces but for the Afghan people as well. Doctors, PAs, and Nurses all got their say. But to not speak with the Medical Technicians is a grave injustice to not only the current Medics on the ground but as well those who have already served and those who will go back again on just how important their role is. Yes the hospital in Kandahar has a very high "if you come in with a pulse you will leave here alive" record however this would ABSOUTLY not be possible without the Medics on the front line who see these injuries first if no then as they happen while they themselves are ingaged in the combat. Thank you.

One of the most moving documentaries I've ever seen. I have a whole new level of profound respect and admiration for each individual that has served and I am humbled by the thought so many have paid the ultimate price. God bless and protect our sons and daughters who stand in harms way so that I can wake up without concerns for my own safety every morning.

ok, so you heard the doctor's stories. What about the working people. The Med Techs, OR Techs, Lab, X-Ray etc. The folks that do all the dirty work!!!!!

As a 1st year med student who just committed myself to 10 years of military service in exchange for my med school fees, I was really looking forward to this piece that may offer me a glimpse of my future. I was rather disappointed by the lack of emphasis on the dynamics between doctors, nurses, medics and other support staff.

I am especially disappointed to see that NCMs such as medics were completely overlooked. They are the arms and legs of doctors and nurses who sit in relative safety from the war. It's too bad that they were overlooked in a story in which they are the crucial characters.

I also felt the show was somewhat staged and so edited that it lost its flow and impact. I absolutely think the doctors interviewed were great representatives for MO's in the military and I hope to join their ranks in the future.

As to some viewer's comments about how human rights were violated etc...I have to somewhat defend the health care team there. I honestly don't think they did anything wrong other than putting the story in the film and showing it. It is war and there will be casualties. Just imagine if the tables were turned and the Canadian soldier was treated at the Afghan hospital somewheres...War is war, it is not ideal, it is deadly and completely improvised.

As the only MOTP med student at my university, I have gotten comments such as "are you CRAZY!, you are insane" from other med students, and I am really glad that this documentary came to light. Now I don't have to on the defensive. I really do believe that there is something quite unique about being a health care professional in a war zone and that only an exclusive group of people are fit to be in Afghanistan.

Regardless of what the Canadian government's opinion is on Afghanistan's war, we as Canadian citizens should lend our support to the individual soldier's over seas. They did not start the war, nor will they end it. It is us the voters who elected a government that chose to send the individual soldiers in, and for that they deserve our forever gratitude and support.

We shouldn't go to battle unless we extremely have to, like a peak thorough decision, no choice kind of thing (Peace & Defence is always best). If Canadian politicians is there with uncertainty with the general public feeling that way, we could possibly be adding fuel to the fire and get mixed in with the conflict. I hope that in this effort and in any other possible case scenarios that Canadians are sure of themselve for the action we take and are certain for the cause and hopeful for the outcome! Let's not also hold are past to close but always remember, we should live in our times today how far we've evolve to being more civil in society and around the world.

I want to help Izatullah, how do I do that?

I am a Med Tech who just completed 7 months at the role 3 and was there for the taping of the show. I am disapointed that only doctors and nurses were shown in the documentary I know for a fact that there were numerous interviews done with my medics and not one shown on the show. Why? It is made out that the doctors and the nurses are the only ones that are making a difference there.

Like MCpl Franklin stated if there were no medics then the patients would not have made it to the hospital. Also in this time of politacal mayhem over the mission you did no justice to what we are really doing over there. About 80% of the patients we saw over there were locals, and there was no talk about the many humanitarian surgeries that we performed in which most of the people would not have survived with the medical care provided at their own hospitals.

We had numerous "Mass Cals" where we received up to 23 patients flown in that local hospitals couldn't handle. The only local you talked about was the one that got injured due to coalition fire. The things that get done in that hospital better the lives of the Afghans and improve the quality of life of all that walk thru our doors. I am disapointed at the view you took however I do appreciate that you showed another side other then the death also showing the life saving care provided to all. What we are doing there is making a difference and we need to be there. Way to go team we all made a difference.

This was a fascinating presentation.I served in the Canadian Forces from 1990 to 1999 and as medic. I'm very proud to say I knew Sergeant Major Doug Libby when I was posted to 2 Field Ambulance in Petawawa,Ontario in 1991. It is nice to see someone you know rise through the ranks and serve our country with pride.
Cynthia

The other comments I have read praise more eloquently than I am able to express, the dedication, skill, courage and conviction of our truly remarkable combat medical personnel in Afghanistan.

Early this summer 17 members of The Brockville Rifles will be deploying to Afghanistan and this city is proud of these brave young volunteers who will be fighting the new, 21st cetury type of war, thrust upon us by an enemy who, as mentioned in your documentary, is as likely to be found hiding in the huts of innocent, terrified Afghani civilians as in the countryside waiting to do battle from rat-holes in the ground or setting off IED's, from a distance, away from the reach of our troops.

However, since one doctor on your documentary expressed bewilderment as to why Canada had troops in Afghanistan, nest of the Taliban, perhaps, for the sake of clearing away any confusion this may have caused in the minds of some viewers, you would do an episode consisting of a montage of film from 9\11, the Madrid train station bombings, as well as the London transit bombings and the attemted bombing of an airport in Scotland.

The shocking "surprise" bombshell dropped on an unsuspecting viewership that 'panicked' Dutch troops, rather than Taliban, had caused the horrific injuries to that poor lad, was as tacky, in my opinion, as it's possible to be---to attempt to advance a political agenda via the suffering of a young boy is as contemptible as it is cowardly. You tried to make political points by using an incident that was shocking precisely because it is such an aberration to the norm.

Our troops being deployed, as well as those now serving in Afghanistan, and our coalition allies, deserve better than the publicly-funded CBC bias that is it's well-known trademark.

An enlightening documentary but I was disappointed in the almost exclusive focus on the medical doctors, both military and civilian - their roles and responsibilities, their thoughts and feelings about being over there, and whether they thought the Canadian presence was justified.

With the exception of a small contribution from one nurse and one NCO, the rest of the team was just backdrop for the role of the medical doctor. The documentary failed to demonstrate the amazing team work, skill, training and professionalism of all the personnel at the hospital as well as those on-scene soldiers in the field who provide initial care and transport to the injured.

Medical doctors are one part of the team and the positive outcomes achieved in the trauma unit are the result of the efforts of the entire team, not just the guy or gal in the white ball cap.

As for the manner in which the documentary dealt with the injured Afghani soldier and his subsequent death, would either the military or the CBC be comfortable showing the same lurid detail if the victim had been a Canadian or a Western coalition soldier? Very unlikely.

My wife and I watched this documentary with great interest as our son, a sergeant in the Dutch Medical Corp, is joining this hospital around July.

As a Dutchman, I can't say how proud we are that he will serve with those that have done so much to liberate my country in 1945.

As a medical student, I found this story especially compelling, particularly in its exploration of the ethical issues civilian doctors face when choosing to provide care in the war.

Interesting that a documentary would so carefully tread through this topic, and then blatantly disrespect human dignity - airing on television an Afghani man dying, while the doctors were deciding to pronounce him dead, and then again once he had passed away.

This editorial choice was not only hugely inappropriate - I'm assuming the dying man did not give the journalists his consent - but completely unnecessary. The story would not have lost anything from this omission, and I was extremely disappointed in the journalists, The Fifth Estate program, and the CBC, for including it.

What a great documentary. Congratulation to the journalists. Hope we can see it in French (radio-canada) to share this very good documentary with the french community and our families who does not understand it as well.

BRAVO to you and Bravo to all the soldiers over there.

As a graduate of the Afghanistan school of hard knocks and the amazing medical care that I and all my comrades have received at KAF.

81 Canadian Soldiers and one diplomat have died as of today and its quite possible that if they have been alive at the time they were received by the KAF hospital they would still be alive today. Also the 400 wounded soldiers have a list of severely disabled that should have been killed and they were saved by this facility. I owe my life to this place and so do mny more coalition troops ANP, ANA, Afghan civilians and even the bad guys (Taliban and Al Queda).

This facility is the best battlefield hospital in the world (possibly the Hotel Bagdad is better) and the experiences our doctors, nurses, neuro surgeon surgeons, orthopedic surgeons, medical technicians (paramedic skilled medics with added nursing skills, OR skills, combat skills and as the bottom of the medical trade they are also the foundation. Without the front line medic doing their job no wounded would ever walk in the front door. The front line medics and the course in tactical medicine that they teach receive are what is saving lives at a rate that is unheard of in the types explosions and attacks that we have sustained.

The combat application tourniquet has saved 60 lives so far...including myself. A simple one handed tourniquet of American design the CAT continues with changing the rules of medicine.

When the field medics see blood the initial reaction is to place a tourniquet on the wound (this falls in the face of the structured Airway breathing circulation concept). Deaths from bleeding out are the number one killer of men in combat that is completely preventable.

Field medics as called in other countries and med techs in Canada are a similar breed and i wish the interesting stories of the medics that have their hands in the deep wounds in the local ANP or ANA or worse in a young school kid, What we train for is not this....... what we do is help so dohealthy young men and women recover from wounds and then help them transition back to their jobs. Tactical Medicine (TCCC and a shortened version for all CFRA) is taught in house and with the help of a high grade company out of Winnipeg.

Each soldier that deploys from canada is trained on a two day course that introduces to them concept of tactical medicine. Several "keeners" or soldiers that have an aptitude fro medical instruction go on to take an elite course in Tactical medicine. Two TCCC soldiers are required in each infantry section and as a result the medics fingers (the infantry, engineers, drivers and gunners students) they are the ones up front doing the job. The medic receives the patients and then he makes decisions with the command on the scene based on the number and the level of care. The first junior level of command starts here.

If the medic makes a mistake a person could die if he does the load order wrong then more could die if the patients must travel by road many more could die. The decisions we leave on the very broad soldiers of the Canadian Medical Branch Medical technicians.

But back to my in the Arghandab region.
For me its the wheelbarrow, the ones that squeak towards you. you are at a Village Medical Clinic in a UN refugee camp. The main wheel rolls through the rough path...I look around and see the others......everyone is working on new patients and the Burka ladies are lined up against a wall. They look looking shockingly like blue starlings and with a bad bump or shout from a kid the whole flock would stand up and fly away. But its up to me to do my job...i sigh and take a deep breath.

The flea ridden blanket is pulled back a horrible wound appears on a frail small boy. the sights and smells are horrible. Sometimes they are burns from the stoves in the homes, sometimes from the war the list of the whys are as long as the list of items that can be stuffed into a backpack of C4 an that is what a Taliban fighter looses sleep on, the hatred of women of children that defy the orders of his mullah. They come and receive what little help we can offer but in the end it may-help make a more peaceful transitions to a long life in the next life Paradise. Sometimes we can withhold paradise from coming and offer the patients 15-cents of antibiotics and now this young person has a chance to be a doctor or scientist or Einstein or even another statistics.

This story of Life and Death in Kanadhar is but a glimpse of the many stories the soldiers must tell..swe should never fallen into the trap of only telling our war stories like our grandfathers over non listening ear over sunday dinners of a new generation that is rapidly losing interest. All Canadian Soldiers should tell their tale and talk about what they believe and what they saw and their experiences both good and bad. I have a book out and another good book is Christie Blanchford's.

Two exceptional Books about simple soldiers and their tales.
15 Days by Christie Blanchford tells the story of fierce fighting in Kandahar in the summer of 2006
The Long Walk Home by Liane Faulder (winner Massey Fellowship 2007) tells my story of rehab and recovery after being hit in a suicide bombing the killed Canadian diplomat Glyn Berry.

I encourage talk and debate about some of my comments and the talk of the doctors that work in KAF.

Master Corporal Paul Franklin
Wounded in Action Jan 2006
Employed at Land Forces Western Area Command G1 Casualty Support

I was riveted throughout the whole documentary. The documentary team did a great job of showing the humanity of the military and the day to day challenges of working in a "war" zone. I was impressed by the professionalism and sensitivity of all the health care providers there. It is a demanding and emotionally difficult job and yet these medical people care for all equally, from the wounded "detainee" to the young Afghan child to our own Canadian Soldiers.

Thank you CBC for such a powerful statement on the importance of human life which transcends race, gender and country. And I want to extend a thank you to all those who serve overseas and to our Canadian Military, the best in the world.

A very moving story that provided, the reality of life for the medical personel in a combat zone. The objectivity that they were there as medical personel first and then soldiers second was revealed very well. Regardless of who required assistance...coalition, civilian, detainee..casualties...they were human beings first and deserved the chance to live...then deal with their diferences later. Well done to the all of the coaltion medical personel and civillian specialists for a dificult, but caring profession that you have chosen to fullfill. May all of your nightmares eventually turn into soft dreams...safe journey home.

Great story. It was hard to watch having served with the hospital in 06-07 as a Med tech, I just wounder why there was no interviews with the medical Tech that work at the role 3.

I am a Canadian soldier and a veteran of Afghanistan. My role was convoy protection and my platoon saw it's fair share. I also had many friends who ended up at Role3, some came home in bandages, others in bags.

The Fifth Estate's piece on the hospital at Kandahar Air Field did an excellent job of showing to the average Canadian how good the level of care provided for our soldiers is and how professional our doctors, nurses and medics are, just as the rest of the Canadian Forces is. We are among the best militaries in the world.

I cannot however, condone the strong bias against the mission that I felt from the program. It is not the place of the CBC, nor any news media, to lead the viewers emotion in a political direction. This, unfortunately, is quite commonplace with many of the CBC's documentary style pieces on the mission in Afghanistan. I have yet to see a piece from the soldiers perspective ( aside from "The Crazy Eights" ) that has left myself or my counterparts nodding in agreement, with a feeling that our point of view has been well represented.

I felt the message from the program was "this is tough, we should leave". This is the nature of armed conflict, and the new reality of our world. The wonderful, often completely false view of the smiling Canadian soldier in the blue beret is over. It has been for a long time, at least fifteen years, the Balkans, Rawanda and Somalia proved that. I spent nearly two years in the Balkans and the main factor for success in that country, post UN failure, was the use of armed force from NATO.

Canada, up until recently, was a nation invited to the big party out of courtesy, and then largely ignored. We tried to talk the talk but everyone knew we couldn't walk the walk. If Canadians want Canada to have a voice among our G8 peers on world affairs then we must put up or shut up. We need to be taken seriously again. The Afghan mission is doing that.

Our veterans of past conflict did not volunteer because of an assurance of victory, neither do our soldiers now. Let us not make the mistake of misrepresenting them, marginalizing and then forgeting about them as we have done in the past. We sacrifice all for you, whether you want it or not. Our perspective is an important one. We've lived it.

absolutely brilliant journalism. The brave men and women in that improvised ER are soldiers. Say it again, with meaning, soldiers. Tough as hell. Bless every last one of them. Thank you. From a Canadian combat vet coming from the front, thank you. You are heros. Be proud when you come home.

Aren't those courageous soldiers of ours just amazing, doing what they do best, caring for other people and putting the needs of others ahead of their own? Kudos to the Fifth Estate team for bringing this program into the living rooms of every Canadian as well. Maybe it will help make them realize what we are doing in Afghanistan and why! It's too bad as is mentioned in the program, that our political leaders don't experience the war first hand. As they say in the Navy; Bravo Zulu, a job well done, to both the CF and the CBC!

As a member of the role 3 MMU during the filming of this documentary I am impressed on the quality of the content; I am however not impressed with the lack of the coverage of the other sections of the unit.

At no time do you show the support sections, such as lab, x-ray, or the forward medical equipment depot. These sections are vital to ensuring that the services offered are as complete as possible in a war zone.

It would have been nice if you had also profiled the other sections, including such sections as Preventive Medicine or Physio.

Doctors and Nurses are not the only members of the unit.