March 28, 2024

Investigate medical complicity in Gitmo torture, say doctors

In the continuing debate over mistreatment and torture at Guantanamo Bay, the journal PLoS Medicine has alleged that medical doctors and mental health professionals from the US Department of Defense concealed or failed to document medical evidence of intentional harm of nine detainees.

In the continuing debate over mistreatment and
torture at Guantanamo Bay, the journal PLoS
Medicine
has alleged that medical
doctors and mental health professionals from the US Department of Defense
concealed or failed to document medical evidence of intentional harm of nine
detainees.

Vincent Iacopino, of Physicians for Human Rights,
and retired US Army General Stephen Xenakis examined records for nine detainees
and contend that doctors failed in their basic medical duty to the detainees. They
want “a thorough,
impartial investigation”. and declare that “until such time as such an
investigation is undertaken, and those responsible for torture are held accountable,
the ethical integrity of medical and other healing professions remains
compromised.”

The mistreatment and torture included severe beatings
resulting in bone fractures, sexual assault and/or the threat of rape, mock execution,
mock disappearance, and near asphyxiation from water. Detainees were also subject
to sleep deprivation, exposure to temperature extremes, serious threats, forced
positions, beatings, and forced nudity. The authors claim that “each of the detainees continues to
experience severe, long-term and debilitating psychological symptoms that are
likely to persist for many years, and possibly a lifetime.”

The medics failed to inquire about the causes
of injuries or symptoms. Psychological symptoms following interrogations were commonly
attributed to “personality disorders” and “routine stressors of confinement”
and not reasonably attributed to interrogation sessions.

Michael Cook
torture