Major American medical associations have denounced arrests of Bahraini doctors and nurses who treated injured protesters. In a letter to the government, they say…
Major American medical associations have denounced
arrests of Bahraini doctors and nurses who treated injured protesters. In a letter
to the government, they say that they are “deeply concerned about recent reports
 of violations of medical neutrality
in Bahrain. We are especially alarmed by reports of arrests and disappearances of
medical professionals who followed their ethical duty to provide treatment to sick
and wounded pro?democracy demonstrators
impartially and without interference.”

According to news reports, 23 doctors and 24
nurses have been charged with participating in attempts to topple the Bahrain government
and taking part in illegal rallies.

The letter declares that this is a violation
not only of medical ethics, but of international human rights agreements:

“Such attacks on
medical professionals, health facilities, and patients are grave violations not
only of medical neutrality but of well?founded
customary international law. Furthermore, these acts violate Bahrain’s responsibilities
under key international human rights treaties, many of which codify the government’s
responsibility to provide access to health care.”

The signatories to the letter included representatives
of the American Medical Association, Physicians for Human Rights, National Arab
American Medical Association and the American College of Physicians. ~ AP, May
3

Michael Cook
Bahrain
politics and bioethics

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Michael Cook

Michael Cook edits BioEdge, a bioethics newsletter, and MercatorNet, an on-line magazine whose focus is human dignity. He writes from Sydney, Australia.

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