BMJ  2004;329:473 (28 August), doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7464.473-a

News

Medical bodies urge investigation of alleged involvement in torture

London

Two medical organisations have called for further investigations into the involvement of health workers after allegations that doctors were involved in the torture of prisoners held by US military forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture, a British charity that treats torture victims, has written to the American Medical Association asking it to initiate an official investigation of the alleged collaboration of health professionals—including US army doctors—in the intentional infliction of torture on prisoners held by US forces abroad. It has also asked the association to take disciplinary action against any of its members who have knowingly violated the basic principles of medical ethics.

The World Medical Association, an independent confederation of national medical associations from more than 80 countries, also issued a statement reiterating its longstanding policy of condemning any physician involvement in any abuse and torture of prisoners and detainees.

The responses followed allegations made by Steven Miles, professor of bioethics at the University of Minnesota Medical School, in the Lancet last week ( Lancet 2004;364: 725-9[CrossRef][Medline]). He reviewed a wide range of US government documents, which he said showed that "the US military medical system failed to protect detainees' human rights, sometimes collaborated with interrogators or abusive guards, and failed to properly report injuries or deaths caused by beatings." This included falsifying and delaying death certificates.

Dr William Hopkins, consultant psychiatrist at the Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture, said: "There is evidence of direct medical involvement in torture and indirect planning for the sophisticated psychological and physical techniques of abuse used against prisoners. We are aware that the AMA has made strong policy statements against torture. We are also aware that the AMA denounces medical participation in torture in its code of ethics. That unequivocal stand needs to be enforced conscientiously."

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