An Ethical Framework for Physician Involvement in Detainee Interrogations
Abstract
Scant literature exists which provides ethical guidance to physicians involved in interrogation activities of personnel detained during military operations. Recent journal articles have criticized the use of physicians in ways distant to the Hippocratic tradition. It is dear that physicians can and should be integrally involved in the traditional direct care role to insure the health and well-being of detainees. What is less dear is the use of certain expertise and skills of the physician in order to extract information from detainees of a military or security nature. This paper demonstrates that it is indeed morally sound to involve physicians as consultants and as observers but not as direct interrogators. Patient care duties must be completely separated from the interrogation process. The purpose should only be to ensure that the dignity of the detainee is not being violated and that interrogation techniques protect that dignity. A method of analysis is introduced that centers around the concept of vulnerability to clearly separate the professional requirements placed upon the physician through the Hippocratic tradition from the expectations placed on the interrogator the military or the State. Derivation from the Natural Law tradition as expressed in the Geneva Conventions is posited.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 15, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA449257
Entities
People
- Ronald E. Smith Jr.
Organizations
- United States Army War College