Physicians for Human Rights calls for Justice

Recently the CIA Inspector General's Report of 2004 was released by court order. It detailed various enhanced interrogation techniques approved for detainees and other unlawful combatants in the War on Terror and further corroborated an International Committee of the Red Cross Report on detainee abuse.

The Physicians for Human Rights read the report and were shocked by what they found. They concluded that psychiatrists and psychologists designed and implemented torture programs and then engaged in human experimentation and data collection of the results. They are demanding a full investigation and feel that if psychiatrists and psychologists are found guilty of participating in human experimentation, then charges of war crimes need to be brought against them and their licenses and certifications revoked.

However, in the true APA style of talking the talk but never walking the walk, the American Psychological Association has merely expressed its concern and dismay that some of its members might have engaged in such practices, but it has never formally repudiated the behavior or demanded an investigation into the alleged activities. In fact, some members have tried at times to present themselves as angels of mercy.

Wishful thinking might want to dismiss Physicians for Human Rights as a fringe group. But, as Nobel Peace Prize recipients in 1997, they are not. Sadly, however, no one in the current administration seems to want an investigation of any practices pursued in the last administration, saying that we need to put the past behind us and move forward. I am very concerned when people and governments refuse to take responsibility for their actions and fail to learn from past mistakes. It only lays the groundwork for further atrocities.