Monday, July 23, 2007

Medical Ethics? What are Those?

From TPM Muckracker, questions about the role of medical doctors in all the torture that's been going on under the US flag.

For me, this is a no-brainer: Doctors who advised anyone on torture methods should lose their licenses, permanently and everywhere. Same goes for psychiatrists. Not only is that a proper response, I think it's in the self-interest of both professions.

Though I imagine that one rationale used to justify the participation of medical professionals is that "national security" or the "threat of another terrorist attack" trumps everything else. It's been a tried and true talking point for conservatives for some time, and I can see it getting into the head of people who are nominally professionals.

A much harder question to answer is whether or not doctors and psychiatrists should make themselves available to treat victims of torture, since they stand a good chance of becoming enablers.

Thoughts?

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