Define: Feres Doctrine

The Feres Doctrine is a legal principle established by the United States Supreme Court in the case of Feres v. United States (1950). It holds that members of the military cannot sue the federal government for injuries that arise incident to military service. The doctrine is based on the idea that allowing such lawsuits would undermine military discipline and interfere with the government’s ability to manage military affairs. As a result, service members are generally barred from seeking compensation for injuries, including medical malpractice, suffered while on active duty. However, there are exceptions to the Feres Doctrine, such as claims arising from injuries sustained off duty or claims brought against civilian employees of the military.

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This glossary post was last updated: 29th March 2024.