Physicians for Human Rights has released a report that uncovers, in recently released documents on the CIA's use of "enhanced interrogation techniques" on detainees held in U.S. custody, evidence that health professionals working for and on behalf of the CIA participated in research and experimentation on detainees.
The report, Experiments in Torture: Evidence of Human Subject Research and Experimentation in the "Enhanced" Interrogation Program, describes how these practices could violate accepted standards of medical ethics and domestic and international law, and could in some cases constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Physicians for Human Rights calls for an investigation into, and accountability for, possible human experimentation in the post-9/11 period, and makes a number of concrete recommendations to ensure that health care professionals fully comply with ethical and legal norms in the future. The report is available for download in PDF format, as well as on The Torture Papers, a Physicians for Human Rights website.
Physicians for Human Rights is a grantee of the Open Society National Security and Human Rights Campaign. The campaign also provides support to the Bellevue/NYU Program for Survivors of Torture, whose director, Dr. Allen Keller, assisted in writing this report.
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National Security and Human Rights
Rebuilding and Resilience: 20 Years Since 9/11
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On the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Open Society shares reflections from partners on the road traveled since—and the hard work still ahead.
19 Shameful Years
Torture’s Terrible Toll
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Standing Up to Big Brother
Q&A: A Big Step for Global Privacy Rights
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By ruling against a government intelligence agency, one of the most powerful courts in Germany has struck a blow for data privacy and free expression.