Psychoanalysts Approve Position Statement Condemning the Use of Torture

[struggle4progress]

NEW YORK, Jan. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- On Thursday, during the Winter 2007 Meeting of the American Psychoanalytic Association (APsaA) in New York, the organization's Board of Directors approved a position statement strongly condemning the use of torture. APsaA and in doing so, joins with other mental health and medical professional organizations in their stance on this issue.

As an organization of psychoanalysts who have devoted their lives to helping people undo the effects of trauma in their lives, APsaA strongly protests any governmentally administered and governmentally approved torture of people who are detained. Torture degrades those tortured and those torturing. The effects of that physical and moral degradation, we know, are transmitted to the families and offspring of both victims and perpetrators.

APsaA also strongly condemn the participation or oversight by any mental health or medical personnel in any and all aspects of torture. Such actions are contrary to the basic ethical principles fundamental to the helping professions.

http://sev.prnewswire.com/health-care-hospitals/20070119/NYF02819012007-1.html

[fooj]

1. Right on!

People are speaking out!

[lligrd]

2. About Time!

Better late than never.

[Kurovski]

3. Recommended.

Humanity and sense fights back.

[annabanana]

4. a no-brainer in my opinion... and past due.. . . . . .n/t