Physicians' role in interrogation debated

[struggle4progress]

WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 : Leaders of U.S. medical groups who recently visited Guantanamo Bay, are debating the ethics of medical experts' involvement in questioning prisoners.

The Oct. 19 visit to the U.S. Navy detention facility included meetings with officials and two psychologists who served as consultants during interrogations with detainees, reports The Washington Post.

After the visit, the leaders of the medical groups said psychiatrists and psychologists had aided the interrogators often by applying their insights into human behavior to break the will of prisoners, the report said.

Articles in leading medical journals and forums have said that doctors and behavioral scientists have violated ethical norms while interrogating terrorism suspects at the behest of the U.S. government and become "complicit in torture." The American Psychiatric Association says that psychiatrists should never participate in coercive interrogations, or even lend advice. <snip>

http://www.newkerala.com/news.php?action=fullnews&id=52570

[Southpaw Bookworm]

1. News item from the British Medical Association

I saw today mentioned that they were discussing the issue of complicity with U.S. interrogation eforts and whether that would violate their code of ethics.

[nickyt]

2. A couple of years ago I got a book from the library about Auschwitz.

On the page before the first chapter began were a few words that chilled me, and I'll never forget them:
"They were ALL doctors."
- Auschwitz survivor

[Angry Girl]

4. That's a chiller, for sure....

It concerns me now that this government is pushing the avian flu so hard (even if Rummy's getting rich with his investments in Tamiflu) along with mandatory vaccinations, quarantines, key military roles during health crises, the "no suing the government for bad medicine" and the fact that they want all this under the auspices of Homeland Security with immunity from any requests under the Freedom of Information Act....

[MountainLaurel]

6. New book out on doctors and the Nazis

Murderous Medicine

It's more academic in tone, but nonetheless looks fascinating.

[Angry Girl]

3. The Declaration of Geneva is pretty straightfoward...

The Hippocratic Oath has been updated by the Declaration of Geneva:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Declaration_of_Geneva

AT THE TIME OF BEING ADMITTED AS A MEMBER OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION:

* I SOLEMNLY PLEDGE myself to consecrate my life to the service of humanity;

* I WILL GIVE to my teachers the respect and gratitude which is their due;

* I WILL PRACTICE my profession with conscience and dignity;

* THE HEALTH OF MY PATIENT will be my first consideration;

* I WILL RESPECT the secrets which are confided in me, even after the patient has died;

* I WILL MAINTAIN by all the means in my power, the honor and the noble traditions of the medical profession;

* MY COLLEAGUES will be my sisters and brothers;

* I WILL NOT PERMIT considerations of age, disease or disability, creed, ethnic origin, gender, nationality, political affiliation, race, sexual orientation, or social standing to intervene between my duty and my patient;

* I WILL MAINTAIN the utmost respect for human life from its beginning even under threat and I will not use my medical knowledge contrary to the laws of humanity;

* I MAKE THESE PROMISES solemnly, freely and upon my honor.

URGENT! Timing is critical to save earthquake victims before winter!

[nickyt]

5. Looks good on paper, don't it...but this nation has no current notion of

"abiding by the Geneva Convention" anymore, correct?