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Doctors' involvement in torture
1Region Sjaelland, Denmark. jespersonntag@hotmail.com
Summary
Doctors are involved in torture globally, often due to personal or external pressures, compromising patient care. This participation, particularly in medical examinations, has severe consequences for survivors and the medical profession.
Area of Science:
- Medical Ethics
- Human Rights in Healthcare
- Forensic Medicine
Background:
- Physicians in both democratic and non-democratic nations participate in torture.
- Doctors at risk may face compromised ethical duties due to career, ideology, threats, or orders.
- Lack of training in detainee human rights issues contributes to physician involvement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the extent and nature of medical doctors' involvement in torture.
- To identify the reasons behind physicians' participation in torture.
- To explore the consequences of this involvement for survivors and the medical profession.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of testimonies from torture survivors.
- Analysis of self-reported involvement by doctors.
- Review of literature on medical ethics and human rights.
Main Results:
- The most common involvement is in medical examinations before, during, and after torture.
- Doctors participate in treatment and direct actions during torture, and falsify records.
- Reasons include dual loyalty, ideological totalitarianism, moral disengagement, and threats.
Conclusions:
- Physician involvement in torture, particularly in diagnostic roles, is a documented global issue.
- Consequences include survivor mistrust of doctors, potentially leading to fatal avoidance of medical care.
- The integrity of the medical profession is undermined when doctors' roles as protectors are compromised.
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