Neglect of Medical Evidence of Torture in Guantánamo Bay: A Case Series
Background:
In the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the US, the government
authorized the use of “enhanced interrogation” techniques that
were previously recognized as torture. While the complicity of US health
professionals in the design and implementation of US torture practices has
been documented, little is known about the role of health providers,
assigned to the US Department of Defense (DoD) at the US Naval Station
Guantánamo Bay, Cuba (GTMO), who should have been in a position to
observe and document physical and psychological evidence of torture and ill
treatment.
Methods and Findings:
We reviewed GTMO medical records and relevant case files (client affidavits,
attorney–client notes and summaries, and legal affidavits of medical
experts) of nine individuals for evidence of torture and ill treatment and
documentation by medical personnel. In each of the nine cases, GTMO
detainees alleged abusive interrogation methods that are consistent with
torture as defined by the UN Convention Against Torture as well as the more
restrictive US definition of torture that was operational at the time. The
medical affidavits in each of the nine cases indicate that the specific
allegations of torture and ill treatment are highly consistent with physical
and psychological evidence documented in the medical records and evaluations
by non-governmental medical experts. However, the medical personnel who
treated the detainees at GTMO failed to inquire and/or document causes of
the physical injuries and psychological symptoms they observed.
Psychological symptoms were commonly attributed to “personality
disorders” and “routine stressors of confinement.”
Temporary psychotic symptoms and hallucinations did not prompt consideration
of abusive treatment. Psychological assessments conducted by
non-governmental medical experts revealed diagnostic criteria for current
major depression and/or PTSD in all nine cases.
Conclusion:
The findings in these nine cases from GTMO indicate that medical doctors and
mental health personnel assigned to the DoD neglected and/or concealed
medical evidence of intentional harm.
:
Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary
Vyšlo v časopise:
Neglect of Medical Evidence of Torture in Guantánamo Bay: A Case Series. PLoS Med 8(4): e32767. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1001027
Kategorie:
Research Article
prolekare.web.journal.doi_sk:
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1001027
Souhrn
Background:
In the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the US, the government
authorized the use of “enhanced interrogation” techniques that
were previously recognized as torture. While the complicity of US health
professionals in the design and implementation of US torture practices has
been documented, little is known about the role of health providers,
assigned to the US Department of Defense (DoD) at the US Naval Station
Guantánamo Bay, Cuba (GTMO), who should have been in a position to
observe and document physical and psychological evidence of torture and ill
treatment.
Methods and Findings:
We reviewed GTMO medical records and relevant case files (client affidavits,
attorney–client notes and summaries, and legal affidavits of medical
experts) of nine individuals for evidence of torture and ill treatment and
documentation by medical personnel. In each of the nine cases, GTMO
detainees alleged abusive interrogation methods that are consistent with
torture as defined by the UN Convention Against Torture as well as the more
restrictive US definition of torture that was operational at the time. The
medical affidavits in each of the nine cases indicate that the specific
allegations of torture and ill treatment are highly consistent with physical
and psychological evidence documented in the medical records and evaluations
by non-governmental medical experts. However, the medical personnel who
treated the detainees at GTMO failed to inquire and/or document causes of
the physical injuries and psychological symptoms they observed.
Psychological symptoms were commonly attributed to “personality
disorders” and “routine stressors of confinement.”
Temporary psychotic symptoms and hallucinations did not prompt consideration
of abusive treatment. Psychological assessments conducted by
non-governmental medical experts revealed diagnostic criteria for current
major depression and/or PTSD in all nine cases.
Conclusion:
The findings in these nine cases from GTMO indicate that medical doctors and
mental health personnel assigned to the DoD neglected and/or concealed
medical evidence of intentional harm.
:
Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary
Zdroje
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