Doctors forced to guard Baghdad hospitals after looting

At least one Baghdad hospital has been completely ransacked in looting sparked off by the arrival of American forces in the city. Some hospitals were being guarded by medical staff with guns; others were largely abandoned as staff tried to protect their homes.

The al-Kindi Hospital was left bare of equipment, according to staff of the International Committee of the Red Cross. The Yarmouk Hospital was damaged and looted.

As the BMJ went to press, the International Committee of the Red Cross was still unsure how many …