Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
| Subscribe to Newser's RSS feeds RSS | Follow Newser on Twitter Twitter


6

Psychologists, Doctors Helped With Interrogations

Role of medical professionals in CIA program angers peers

Share

(Newser) – Psychologists and physicians who assisted the CIA's harsh interrogation program are being accused of violating the most basic principles of their professions, the Washington Post reports. The newly released CIA memos confirm that on-site psychologists—generally contract workers with the agency—took an active role in the program, offering ideas and advice on how to break prisoners.

Medical doctors supervised some interrogations and had the authority to stop them if they deemed it medically necessary. Some doctors and ethicists are calling for the health professionals involved to be barred from practicing again. "In terms of ethics, it's not even a close call," said a professor of health law and bioethics.

Newly released records reveal that CIA psychologists took an active role in guiding the agency's harsh interrogation program.
Newly released records reveal that CIA psychologists took an active role in guiding the agency's harsh interrogation program.   (Shutter Stock)
A psychologist advised CIA interrogators on the most effective ways to break the will of captured al-Qaeda member Abu Zubaydah, according to newly released memos.
A psychologist advised CIA interrogators on the most effective ways to break the will of captured al-Qaeda member Abu Zubaydah, according to newly released memos.   (AP Photo/U.S. Central Command)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

The health professionals involved in the CIA program broke the law and shame the bedrock ethical traditions of medicine and psychology.
- Frank Donaghue, chief executive of Physicians for Human Rights

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
OFF THE GRID
11.24.09
Murdoch and Microsoft: The Mice Are Trying to Roar
11.23.09
Books Are Bad for You
6 comments
VIEWING:
 
veloslug
Apr 18, 09 12:51 PM CDT
There's probably a Gonzales memo laying around with a tortured interpretation of a the Hippocratic Oath... "Never" to do deliberate "harm" to anyone for anyone else's interest. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
TerrifiedCitizen
Apr 18, 09 1:21 PM CDT
The psychological damage done to those intimate with these evil acts is something that needs to be explored. If they are hardened by it, they need to be reassigned; if they are anguished by it, they may need treatment themselves. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
Mr.C
Apr 18, 09 1:35 PM CDT
Wait, how is a Doctor surpervising an interrogation with the ability to stop it unethical - It seems better than if the Doctor wasn't there - why should he be blamed. For the Psychologists it may be another story. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
IN RESPONSE:
shonangreg
Apr 18, 09 7:25 PM CDT
Why do you it an "interrogation"? The charge is that doctors were enabling torture. They had the power to refuse to oversee or contribute in any way to something that was both illegal and against their Hippocratic Oath. If all doctors and psychologists had acted ethically and with fortitude, they could have lessened the chances the torture would have been carried out. Ditto for the torturers themselves who also didn't want to do it but were ordered to by the Justice Department. They were all a bunch of "yes men" making possible that which should have never happened.
Vote up! Vote down!
0
Mad
Apr 18, 09 8:28 PM CDT
I agree with the assessment of striping them of their professional degrees. How can any ethical practitioner of medicine have anything to do with this horror is beyond me. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0

View all 6 comments »

LEAVE A
COMMENT Comment Policy
Facebook ConnectPost this comment to Facebook?

After connecting you will have the option to post your comment on your Facebook profile.

 

Related Newser Stories

97 Stories

CIA Officer: We 'Broke the Law' With Kidnapping

She's one of 23 Americans convicted in Italy for 2003 rendition

Nov 4, 09 6:30 PM CST
(Newser) - One of the CIA agents convicted in Italy today of kidnapping a Muslim cleric in 2003 says the mission "broke the law" and that she feels "abandoned and betrayed" by the US government. The case involving ex-officer Sabrina DeSousa and 22 other Americans is the first challenge to... More »

MORE ABOUT:
CIA • rendition • Italy • kidnapping • House Intelligence Committee • harsh interrogation • terror suspects • extraordinary rendition • Pete Hoekstra • Sabrina DeSousa

Justice Department Narrows Inquiry Into CIA Tactics

Lead investigator will probe only a handful of cases

Sep 19, 09 10:17 AM CDT
(Newser) - Eric Holder continues to take heavy flak from critics who think he should leave the CIA alone, and the Washington Post has news that should give them at least a bit of satisfaction: The Justice Department's preliminary investigation will be smaller than anticipated. The lead investigator will look at only... More »

MORE ABOUT:
CIA • Department of Justice • interrogation techniques • harsh interrogation • John Durham • Eric Holder

CIA Chiefs Ask Obama to Scrap Interrogation Probe

Disclosure of CIA methods will help the enemy, decrease national security, former directors warn

Sep 18, 09 3:05 PM CDT
(Newser) - Seven former CIA directors—appointees of both political parties—are calling on the Obama administration to call off the Justice Department’s investigation of Bush-era interrogation practices, the Hill reports. The probe, ordered by AG Eric Holder, will reveal too much about the CIA’s methods in an environment where... More »

MORE ABOUT:
CIA • torture • Attorney General • George Tenet • Michael Hayden • interrogation • James Schlesinger • interrogation techniques • Porter J. Goss • interrogations • Porter Goss • Eric Holder • James Woolsey • Obama administration • William Webster • John Deutch

97 Stories


Red Cross report finds medics grossly violated ethics
NPR

Torture memos acted as 'golden shield' for interrogators
Times (UK)


US  •  Science & Health 
TwitterFollow @NewserUS on Twitter

 
CIA • International Committee of the Red Cross • interrogation techniques • Abu Zubaydah • harsh interrogation • psychologist • medical ethics • torture memo

from our news partners