In responding to the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19), health-care workers have been exposed to a range of traumatic experiences, including the management of ventilators; provision of treatment; and issues with access to and the use of personal protective equipment. In this commentary, we use recent research on military decision-making to outline the damaging psychological effects of experiences that violate deeply held values. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).