Monday, June 14, 2010

Doctors and torture

Physicians for human rights recently accused the C.I.A. under the Bush Administration of having used doctors to conduct human experiments by observing subjects of 'enhanced interrogation' and gauging the effects of different techniques (see the above article and an editorial written about it). Both the article and editorial note that the behavior was illegal. The C.I.A. has denied the allegations, but it made me wonder whether there would ever be a circumstance where the use of medical professionals in the process of torture might be allowed. Consider Henry Shue's article Torture (assigned for week 4), which sees some justification in torture if performed only under the most specific of circumstances (like the ticking time bomb scenario). He describes the use of a doctor as a way to keep the torture from becoming barbaric - the doctor would monitor the victim and allow only as much pain as necessary to be administered, and would administer a tranquilizer to relieve pain after the purpose of torture had been achieved. Could the use of medical professionals in a situation such as that be justified?

1 comment:

  1. Thanks Kellee for posting this! I am still not sure if I am OK with even the idea that medical professionals be allowed in the process of torture. Although, you do bring up an excellent point with Shue. I find that for that which you illustrate can be justified. As we can see from our readings and the blogs, it is very easy for someone to loose control and administers more pain or even leads to death. I think at that point a doctor's presence is warranted. I would prefer that than having the doctor administering the torture as well as the person doing the torturing loosing a bit of their humanity.

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