United States of America
Practice Relating to Rule 65. Perfidy
Section C. Simulation of being disabled by injuries or sickness
The US Air Force Pamphlet (1976) considers that:
Since situations of distress occur during times of armed conflict, as well as peace, and frequently suggest that the persons involved are
hors de combat, feigning distress or death, wounds or sickness in order to resume hostilities constitutes perfidy in ground combat. However, a sick or wounded combatant does not commit perfidy by calling for and receiving medical aid even though he may intend immediately to resume fighting … In aerial warfare, it is forbidden to improperly use internationally recognized distress signals to lure the enemy into a false sense of security and then attack.
The US Naval Handbook (1995) states:
It is a violation of the law of armed conflict to kill, injure or capture the enemy … by feigning shipwreck, sickness, [or] wounds … A surprise attack by a person feigning shipwreck, sickness, or wounds undermines the protected status of those rendered incapable of combat … Such acts of perfidy are punishable war crimes.
The US Naval Handbook (2007) states:
It is a violation of the law of armed conflict to kill, injure, or capture the enemy … by feigning shipwreck, sickness, [or] wounds … A surprise attack by a person feigning shipwreck, sickness, or wounds undermines the protected status of those rendered incapable of combat. Such acts of perfidy are punishable war crimes.
The US Manual for Military Commissions (2010), Part IV, Crimes and Elements, states: “One may commit an act of treachery or perfidy by, for example … feigning incapacitation by wounds or sickness”.