4-4. NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES FOR SPECIAL CATEGORY PATIENTS
a. Patients of Legal Age. A patient of legal age who is listed as SPECAT is
counseled about the advisability of informing a member of his family of his condition. He is
advised and encouraged to write or call personally if physically and mentally able to do so.
If the patient is unable to write or call, assistance is provided by volunteer workers or
hospital staff members. If the patient is over legal age and refuses to inform his family, the
fact of refusal and the name of the officer receiving the refusal is noted in the patient's
inpatient treatment record.
b. Patients Under Legal Age. If the patient listed as SPECAT is under legal age
and refuses to inform his family about his condition, the commander may communicate this
information to the next of kin if he considers it in the best interest of the patient to do so.
c. Special Cases. When a patient is unable to act in his own best interest and
cannot communicate intelligently with his family, the commander informs the next of kin
about the patient's condition relating the specific diagnoses, in lay language.
4-5. PROGRESS REPORTS FOR VSI/SI/SPECAT PATIENTS
a. CONUS. Upon classification as VSI or SI, the MTF commander will immediately
notify the NOK or other person to be notified. A follow-up (progress report) should be sent
at least every 5 days and immediately upon a significant deterioration in the patient's
condition. A final notification will be sent when the patient is removed from VSI/SI.
b. Overseas. When a patient is overseas, DD Form 173, Joint Message form is
prepared in accordance with AR 600-10. The original copy is forwarded to the
communication center and one copy is placed in the MTF functional files.
c. SPECAT Patients. Progress reports for SPECAT patients are prepared only
when the commander considers it in the best interest of the patient.
4-6. EXCEPTIONS AND INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS
a. Exceptions. The notification procedures discussed in the above paragraphs do
not apply to prisoners of war or enemy nationals.
b. International Requirements. In addition to all other notification requirements,
when personnel of armed forces of allied nations or foreign national students are patients
in a CONUS Army MTF, the commander in whose area the casualty occurs provides the
casualty area commander with information with which to prepare a casualty report.
(1) When representatives of the patient's government are located near the
installation or medical facility, the commander has responsibility to notify them directly.
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