APA Statement on Psychiatric Practices at Guantanamo Bay

[maddezmom]

To: National Desk


Contact: Lydia Sermons-Ward, 703-907-8640 or [email protected]; Hillarie Turner, 703-907-8536 or [email protected], both of the American Psychiatric Association


ARLINGTON, Va., June 27 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The American Psychiatric Association (APA) is troubled by recent reports regarding alleged violations of professional medical ethics by psychiatrists at Guantanamo Bay. APA is reviewing issues related to psychiatry and interrogation procedures and plans to develop a specific policy statement in the near future.


APA is not neutral on physician practices and clearly recommends that psychiatric physicians practice in accordance with the APA ethics guidelines, which are also in accordance with the medical code of ethics set forth in the Principles of Medical Ethics of the American Medical Association (AMA).


APA's Principles of Medical Ethics with Annotations Especially Applicable to Psychiatry states the following:

-- A physician shall be dedicated to providing competent medical care with compassion and respect for human dignity and rights.


-- A physician shall respect the law and also recognize a responsibility to seek change in those requirements which are contrary to the best interests of the patients.


-- Ethical considerations in medical practice preclude the psychiatric evaluation of any person charged with criminal acts prior to access to, or availability of, legal counsel. The only exception is the rendering of care to the person for the sole purpose of medical treatment.


-- A physician shall respect the rights of patients, colleagues, and other health professionals, and shall safeguard patient confidences and privacy within the constraints of the law.

~snip~

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20050627/pl_usnw/apa_statement_on_psychiatric_practices_at_guantanamo_bay312_xml;_

[Roland99]

1. Just send Tom and Katie down there. These "terrorists" just need therapy.

[HuckleB]

8. Except, Tommy boy's in Georgie's bunker already.

APA responds to Tom Cruise's anti-psychiatry remarks:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=26719

:)

[mom cat]

2. I'm glad that they came out so forcefully on this issue.

[Gothmog]

3. Do no Harm

The central tenet of the code of ethics for the medical community is "Do no Harm." There is no way to reconcile this concept with the torture and techniques used at Guantanamo

[struggle4progress]

4. !!! eom

[alfredo]

5. This could be against international law.

[LightningFlash]

6. Pish posh, they eat lemon chicken down there. Lets not dillute ourselves.

Torture is just an oxymoron.

You go to it APA!! :yourock:

[Sanity Claws]

7. I hope this leads to revocation of APA memberships and licenses

to practice.

[IndianaGreen]

9. Dr. Mengele was a doctor in the SS

Our military has its own version of the SS doctors to use in Bush's gulag.