Because Doctors Without Borders' purpose is to bring medical assistance to people in distress, the work may occur in settings of active conflict, or in post-conflict environments, in which there are inherent risks, potential danger and ongoing threats to safety and security. Doctors Without Borders acknowledges that it is impossible to exclude all risks, but it does its utmost as an organization to mitigate and manage these risks through strict and comprehensive security protocols.
Field workers will be fully informed of the risk associated with a potential mission before accepting a particular posting. Working for Doctors Without Borders is a deeply personal choice; individuals must determine for themselves the level of risk and the circumstances in which they feel comfortable, based on a full and transparent understanding of the possibilities they may face. Once in the mission, all Doctors Without Borders staff must strictly observe security rules and regulations; failure to do so may result in dismissal.