SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
"Psychology as a profession is based upon an ethical duty to 'do no harm,'" said Dr. Stephen Soldz of the orgnanization Physicians for Human Rights. (Photo: Justin Norman/flickr/cc)
APA Letter Sends 'Clear Message' That Psychologists Reject US Torture
The prestigious organization notified the U.S. government it will no longer allow members to collude in torture
Oct 30, 2015
The American Psychological Association (APA) this week formally requested that the U.S. government "safeguard psychologists from involvement in any national security interrogations or detention settings" that would violate human rights, including torture.
The APA on Thursday notified President Barack Obama, the Pentagon, CIA, Congress, and other federal agencies of a series of policy changes adopted by the Association at its annual meeting in August.
According to a statement from the group, these reforms stipulate the following:
1) Participate in national security interrogations or conditions of confinement that might facilitate such interrogations;
2) Work at detention settings operating in violation of the U.S. Constitution or international law (as deemed by specific U.N. authorities), including the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, unless providing treatment to military personnel or working directly for the detainees or for an independent third party to protect human rights. APA asked that any such psychologists be offered deployment elsewhere.
The APA's latest move follows international outcry--including from within medical communities--at revelations that the prestigious organization secretly helped the administration of former President George W. Bush legally and medically justify its post-9/11 torture program.
"The APA's letters send a clear message to the U.S. government that the psychology profession unequivocally rejects policies of torture and abuse, and they set appropriate limits on what psychologists can do in national security contexts," declared Dr. Stephen Soldz, anti-torture adviser for Physicians for Human Rights, in a press statement released Friday.
"Psychology as a profession is based upon an ethical duty to 'do no harm,'" Soldz continued. "National security interrogations, even ones which are not torturous, violate that duty. The government should respect professional ethics and not ask military psychologists to violate APA policy, even in service of their country."
An Unconstitutional Rampage
Trump and Musk are on an unconstitutional rampage, aiming for virtually every corner of the federal government. These two right-wing billionaires are targeting nurses, scientists, teachers, daycare providers, judges, veterans, air traffic controllers, and nuclear safety inspectors. No one is safe. The food stamps program, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are next. It’s an unprecedented disaster and a five-alarm fire, but there will be a reckoning. The people did not vote for this. The American people do not want this dystopian hellscape that hides behind claims of “efficiency.” Still, in reality, it is all a giveaway to corporate interests and the libertarian dreams of far-right oligarchs like Musk. Common Dreams is playing a vital role by reporting day and night on this orgy of corruption and greed, as well as what everyday people can do to organize and fight back. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover issues the corporate media never will, but we can only continue with our readers’ support. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Sarah Lazare
Sarah Lazare was a staff writer for Common Dreams from 2013-2016. She is currently web editor and reporter for In These Times.
The American Psychological Association (APA) this week formally requested that the U.S. government "safeguard psychologists from involvement in any national security interrogations or detention settings" that would violate human rights, including torture.
The APA on Thursday notified President Barack Obama, the Pentagon, CIA, Congress, and other federal agencies of a series of policy changes adopted by the Association at its annual meeting in August.
According to a statement from the group, these reforms stipulate the following:
1) Participate in national security interrogations or conditions of confinement that might facilitate such interrogations;
2) Work at detention settings operating in violation of the U.S. Constitution or international law (as deemed by specific U.N. authorities), including the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, unless providing treatment to military personnel or working directly for the detainees or for an independent third party to protect human rights. APA asked that any such psychologists be offered deployment elsewhere.
The APA's latest move follows international outcry--including from within medical communities--at revelations that the prestigious organization secretly helped the administration of former President George W. Bush legally and medically justify its post-9/11 torture program.
"The APA's letters send a clear message to the U.S. government that the psychology profession unequivocally rejects policies of torture and abuse, and they set appropriate limits on what psychologists can do in national security contexts," declared Dr. Stephen Soldz, anti-torture adviser for Physicians for Human Rights, in a press statement released Friday.
"Psychology as a profession is based upon an ethical duty to 'do no harm,'" Soldz continued. "National security interrogations, even ones which are not torturous, violate that duty. The government should respect professional ethics and not ask military psychologists to violate APA policy, even in service of their country."
Sarah Lazare
Sarah Lazare was a staff writer for Common Dreams from 2013-2016. She is currently web editor and reporter for In These Times.
The American Psychological Association (APA) this week formally requested that the U.S. government "safeguard psychologists from involvement in any national security interrogations or detention settings" that would violate human rights, including torture.
The APA on Thursday notified President Barack Obama, the Pentagon, CIA, Congress, and other federal agencies of a series of policy changes adopted by the Association at its annual meeting in August.
According to a statement from the group, these reforms stipulate the following:
1) Participate in national security interrogations or conditions of confinement that might facilitate such interrogations;
2) Work at detention settings operating in violation of the U.S. Constitution or international law (as deemed by specific U.N. authorities), including the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, unless providing treatment to military personnel or working directly for the detainees or for an independent third party to protect human rights. APA asked that any such psychologists be offered deployment elsewhere.
The APA's latest move follows international outcry--including from within medical communities--at revelations that the prestigious organization secretly helped the administration of former President George W. Bush legally and medically justify its post-9/11 torture program.
"The APA's letters send a clear message to the U.S. government that the psychology profession unequivocally rejects policies of torture and abuse, and they set appropriate limits on what psychologists can do in national security contexts," declared Dr. Stephen Soldz, anti-torture adviser for Physicians for Human Rights, in a press statement released Friday.
"Psychology as a profession is based upon an ethical duty to 'do no harm,'" Soldz continued. "National security interrogations, even ones which are not torturous, violate that duty. The government should respect professional ethics and not ask military psychologists to violate APA policy, even in service of their country."
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.