Medical bodies urge investigation of alleged involvement in torture
BMJ 2004; 329 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.329.7464.473-a (Published 26 August 2004) Cite this as: BMJ 2004;329:473
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Well, it had to rear its ugly head again!
The AMA has, of course, a very colourful past - no one will deny that. Under the leadership of Morris Fishbein it grew into an extremely wealthy, and powerful, organisation which was able to, (and made use of this ability) come down hard on anyone who did not adhere to its principles.( Physicians who did not belong to the AMA were considered suspect and scores of widely known 'unorthodox' practitioners incurred the wrath of the AMA. Chiropractic, Acupuncture, Hypnosis and other systems were attacked without mercy which is a matter of public record. More recently, the AMA has had to eat some of its own words, courtesy of no-nonsense court decisions mainly and its prestige and power has dwindled drastically from the days of 1900 to about 1960. The AMA never has been and certainly is not now, everyone's cup of good-tasting medicine.
To its credit, however, it must be said that a new wind is blowing through its headquarters and the organisation apparently sees itself now as a representative for doctors AND for patients.
It may be true that the AMA will close its eyes to the tortures and other misdeeds committed by members, only time will tell. That, however does not justify Dr. Struther's statement that Americans
don't care when 'stuff' happens.Yet Americans know that when 'stuff' hits
the fan, the distribution is never evenly distributed!
I have spent many years in the USA and enjoyed the interaction with and
friendship of countless Americans.
Americans are among the most generous people in the world, they have a
very strong sense of justice and the typical Yank represents a valuable
member of the global community.
Americans do care, if they hadn't when the goings were tough for
others the world would be a much different, and sadder place. When no one
could take the time to come to the aid of a fellow in need, the typical
Yank took the time.
I don't condone everything America does, just as I don't approve of
everything my next door neighbour does.
Overall, however, I get along well with Americans and will reserve my
judgment on the AMA and the torture issue until after all the facts are
in.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests
Does anyone really believe that the American Medical Association
(AMA) will investigate and take disciplinary action against US doctors
involved in the torture of prisoners held during American military
adventures overseas?
The AMA has strong policy statements on physician involvement in the
American death penalty and yet does nothing to enforce its rules. The AMA
took no action in the case of Andrea Yates where a member knowingly and
recklessly violated the basic principles of medical ethics.
http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/324/7338/634
The AMA may make strong policy statements against torture and may
denounce medical participation in torture. Their words mean nothing
without action. If there is no professional conscience then there can be
no conscientious enforcement of their ethical code. Stuff happens. America
doesn’t care.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests
Call for the Executive to investigate medical complicity
The International Federation of Health and Human Rights Organisation,
which comprises 9 national health and human rights organisations from
around the world, has sent the following letter to President Bush
08 September 2004
President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington DC 20500
Mr President,
We write to you on behalf of international organisations concerned
with
issues of health and human rights. The International Federation of Health
and
Human Rights Organisations (IFHHRO) promotes international cooperation for
the protection and promotion of health related human rights. In this
context,
we wish to express our deep concern about the participation of medical
professionals in the abuses at Abu Ghraib and elsewhere.
IFHHRO welcomes the Schlesinger panel’s (1) attention to the failure
of
medical personnel to report detainees’ abuse and its call for more
training on
the obligations of medical personnel in situations of conflict, under
international humanitarian law, human rights instruments and medical
ethics.
The more recent Fay report found, in addition to the failure to report
incidents of torture, the failure to treat victims of torture. Indeed,
the
problem of medical complicity in such abuse goes far beyond these
violations
of human rights and medical ethics.
IFHHRO recommends that an independent panel investigate the role of
medical personnel in interrogation to determine conclusively whether
physicians participated willingly or were required to participate in the
planning or conduct of the interrogations.
To this end, IFHHRO suggests that the independent panel consider the
following questions:
Whether health professionals, voluntarily or involuntarily,
participated in
interrogations, or assessed detainees before, during or after
interrogation for
the purpose of aiding the interrogation process through monitoring of
diet,
sleep or other health matters.
Whether health professionals, voluntarily or involuntarily, shared
information
about detainees, either orally or in writing (including the release of
medical
records and opinions to interrogators) with interrogators.
Whether health professionals, voluntarily or involuntarily, were
involved in
falsification of death certificates.
Whether health professionals raised objections to abusive practices
or took
measures to protect prisoners from being subjected to such measures.
What training in medical ethics, human rights, and international
humanitarian
law had health professionals received?
What measures have medical licensing bodies taken to discipline
registered
health professionals who have violated professional codes of ethics?
IFHHRO calls for a full and independent investigation to be carried
out at
Guantanamo, Abu Ghraib, in Afghanistan and other such situations of
detention. The investigations should include interviews with health
personnel,
tasking orders, physicians’ reports, cable traffic related to the health
of
detainees and the role of physicians in assessments before and after
interrogation. The conduct of the investigations should be transparent,
and
the findings made public.
Mr. President, in demonstration of our commitment to the universal
goals of
promoting human rights, IFHHRO offers the considerable experience of its
members to participate in any investigation of this kind.
(1) The panel of four was selected by Defence Secretary Donald
Rumsfeld to
provide him with objective and independent advice and recommendations
regarding the charges of abuse at Defence Department detention facilities.
The panel chairman was James Schlesinger, secretary of defence in the
Nixon
and Ford administrations. Other members were: Harold Brown, defence
secretary in the Carter administration; former U.S. Representative Tillie
Fowler; and retired Air Force General Charles Horner.
http://usinfo.state.gov/mena/Archive/2004/Aug/26-9480.html
(2) This investigation was ordered initially by LTG Ricardo S.
Sanchez,
Commander,
Combined Joint Task Force Seven (CJTF-7). LTG Sanchez appointed MG
George R.
Fay as investigating officer under the provisions of Army Regulation 381-
10,
Procedure
15. MG Fay was appointed to investigate allegations that members of the
205th Military Intelligence Brigade (205 MI BDE) were involved in detainee
abuse at the Abu Ghraib Detention Facility. Specifically, MG Fay was to
determine whether 205 MI BDE
personnel requested, encouraged, condoned, or solicited Military Police
(MP)
personnel to abuse detainees and whether MI personnel comported with
established interrogatio procedures and applicable laws and regulations.
http:
//news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/dod/fay82504rpt.pdf
Yours sincerely
Adriaan van Es, MD
Secretary, IFHHRO
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests