Compromising Medical Ethics and Violating International Law?

[texpatriot2004]

News Advisory:

A BROOKINGS BRIEFING -- U.S. Interrogation Practices: Are We Compromising Medical Ethics and Violating International Law?

WHEN: Monday, October 17, 2005 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

WHERE: The Brookings Institution (Falk Auditorium), 1775 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C.

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=54804

<snip>

At Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo, and "undisclosed locations," some U.S. military interrogators have used troubling methods to try to get their captives to talk. Many of their efforts have been widely reported; some may have risen to the level of torture under international law. What is less known, but equally disturbing, is that military doctors often become arbiters, even planners, of aggressive interrogation practice, including prolonged isolation, sleep deprivation and exposure to temperature extremes. The Brookings Institution will hold a briefing to examine whether the use of health professionals in devising aggressive interrogation strategies is unethical and/or contrary to international law.

<snip>

[ananda]

1. y a kwestion

We definitely ARE!

[NVMojo]

2. sort of like suspending t he Geneva Convention rules in our invasions??

[atommom]

3. If violating the Geneva Conventions is immoral and a violation of

international law, then of course a doctor's involvement is immoral and illegal too. This is deeply disturbing ... I am ashamed of my country.

[samdogmom]

4. God this sounds more and more like a concentration camp!

What is wrong with those responsible? Are they insane? Where are the voices of reason and compassion? Why isn't anybody stopping this nonsense?

MEMBERS OF CONGRESS--LISTEN UP--YOU'RE EQUALLY RESPONSIBLE UNLESS YOU GET A BACKBONE AND PUT A STOP TO THIS INHUMANITY. This torture is not a rumor--it's a fact with photos to prove its existence. I am so embarrassed to be a citizen of the U.S.

[rodeodance]

5. Jr is threatening to veto a bill cause of anti-torue clause. says it all.

[maddezmom]

6. yes, it sure does

the world is watching and is disgusted.

[ninkasi]

8. Exactly right, rodeodance

I'm really surprised there hasn't been more reaction to this troubling threat of his. How can anybody who considers themselves to be moral, or ethical, not be shocked and disgusted at this? Well, I'm disgusted, but not shocked. Don't Americans realize what a dangerous position this puts our citizens in, not just overseas, but here as well?

It's really harder to be anything but deeply shamed by my own country's actions anymore. It's a day I never dreamed I'd live to see.

[rainidame]

7. my grandfather had to be one of those doctor types. . .

He was born 1881, died 1981, Armenian by birth, then the Russians "took" him to Africa/Mid East and his job as a young doctor was to determine how much toture each man could take without dying. He said, he tried to keep them light, but needless to say they caught on and randomly beat a few to death and if he was more than so far off on his estimate they tortured him. . . .that only happened once, he said.
I wonder what would keep good american doctors continuing on that road?