medical pull

[Draggeron Ascholie]

It has been brought to my attention by one of my other medics, that there was question/discussion regarding pulling someone off the field for their own safety. I will not delve further, but just leave it at that.

Now, some say, they signed a waiver, if they keep goin when they shouldn't it is their fault, some say a herald can pull them. In a way, they are both right. If someone knows they are hurt, they should pull themselves off so as to not have a major accident (especially if it is only a practice). If they dont and no one else can tell they are hurt, then it is their fault. However, if a herald or designated medic (which we have a few of) were to notice someone is to the point where they should step off the field, it is their respobsibility as a herald and/or medic to make sure it happens. So, to tear it down if a medic or herald tells you that you need to take a break, then you more than likely need to and should listen to their objective view. If you dont, the herald should make you sit down for arguing with the herald. We medics and the heralds are here for yalls safety, dont undermine us please. Putting yourself at risk puts everyone at risk, and a herald's job is not just to keep you from hurtin others, but to keep people from gettin hurt (or minimizing the liklihod). That is all i will say now, i can explain more if so requested

[Sir Beauregaurd]

so what if it is a broken finger? what if your( draggeron) shoulder hurts? what if i feel really tired? what if i just got over the flu? what if the were born without a limb? what if....... in the end its the fighters call, as long as a hold doesn't need to be called. once a hold is called then they can be removed from fighting, just like at ARM, a dude in a tourney seperated his shoulder 2 times before they stopped the fight.

[Denara]

According to the Book of War:
1.1.1. A Marshal has the authority to remove anyone from the field of battle.
and
1.1.3. A Marshal is responsible for safe conduct of battles, and therefore has the power to stop battles whenever a safety concern occurs.

Therefore, under the letter of the rules, someone wearing a Marshal's tabard can remove a fighter from the field if they pose a safety issue. This does explicitly state a difference between a safety issue for themselves or a safety issue for others. Also there are no rules for a medic not wearing a Marshal's tabard to remove someone.

Under rule 1.4:
Creative interpretation of the rules to gain any advantage is discouraged. These rules are intentionally sparse to allow for ease of use. The Marshal, according to these rules, and medieval foam combat precedent, settles all disputes.

Under Belegarth tradition, this rule has been taken to mean "do not argue with the Marshal". So, if someone wearing a Marshal's tabard pulls you off the field for being a safety hazard to yourself, under rules and tradition, you stay off the field.

However, since no one was wearing a Marshal's tabard and there was no concensus as to the safety issue posed among all the people who could have been wearing a tabard, the issue becomes much more complicated. Under the letter of the rules, any safety hazard should be removed from the field. When a does someone fighting with a previous injury constitute a safety hazard is the real question and not one that can be easily answered on a web forum or even among a group of people since they will all have differing opinions.

If an injured fighter is asked to leave the field by a medic and not by a Marshall, there is nothing that can be done without the Marshal's agreement and/or compliance by the fighter in question.

In Bo's example, the fighter was removed when it was clear that his continuing to fight posed a safety hazard to himself. The shoulder was reset and it was thought that he could continue. When it separated a second time, it was clear to the Marshals present that he could not safely continue to fight.

In the case in question from our practice, there was question as to when the fighter was representing a leg injury under the HACS rules being used that evening. When it was determined that it was an actual injury causing the leg to be dragged, I made a decision that it was indeed a safety issue. This was not a hasty decision, several battles were observed first. However, as everyone in attendance has a differing perspective on what constitutes a safety issue, nothing can be done and especially not retroactively. We have disagreement among the officers of the Realm as to the safety issue posed.

At the particular practice in question, several hasty actions were taken by parties involved. For my part of those hasty actions, I apologize to the Realm as a whole. Clearly, my opinion on what constitutes a safety hazard (in my mind, fighting with an injury that will extend the length and severity of that injury) will differ from those of you who are 10+ years younger than me.

Once again, I apologize.

[glorfindel]

As someone who has been pulled off the feild and prevented from fighting by a medic I support the policy. The medic usually has a more objective opinion on your injury and their judgement should be followed.

[Sir Beauregaurd]

your powers of necromancy are as sharp as your logic.
i would have to level up for a life time to pull a year + old post up.