Category — human rights

The nation’s leading organization of psychiatrists says the Pentagon has reneged on an agreement not to use psychiatrists in interrogations of detainees at Guantanamo and other detention sites.

In a letter to Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Dr. Nada L. Stotland, president of the American Psychiatric Association, says, “The use of psychiatrists to aid in interrogations is a serious violation of medical ethics and should be discontinued.”

Psychiatrists Protest Pentagon Interrogations : NPR

Members of the American Psychological Association have voted to prohibit consultation in the interrogations of detainees held at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, or so-called black sites operated by the Central Intelligence Agency overseas, the association said on Wednesday.

Psychologists Vote to End Interrogation Consultations – NYTimes.com

Come join Boston Psychologists for an Ethical APA, Physicians for Human Rights and other sponsors in protesting the American Psychological Association’s continued acceptance of psychologists involvement in military interrogations. 

Jane Mayers new book, The Dark Side, has refocused attention on psychologists’ participation in Bush administration torture and detainee abuse. In one chapter Mayer provides previously undisclosed details about psychologists James Mitchell and Bruce Jessen’s role in the CIAs brutal, “enhanced interrogation” techniques. These techniques apparently drew heavily on the theory of “learned helplessness” developed by former American Psychological Association President Martin Seligman. Seligman’s work involved tormenting dogs with electrical shocks until they became totally unable or unwilling to extract themselves from the painful situation. Hence the phrase “learned helplessness.”

Soldz, Olson, Reisner Arrigo and Welch: Torture After Dark – Read more…

Attached you will find a letter from the Nordic Psychological Associations to the American Psychological Association. This letter politely but firmly challenges the APA’s position on psychologists’ involvement in interrogations and detainee treatment, and exposes just how far the APA’s position is from the ethical standards of other psychological and health professional organizations, here and abroad.

torture-nordic-psych-assoc-letter-to-apa

Morgentaler among those named to Order of Canada - Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean has named a leading abortion rights crusader to the Order of Canada, news that has outraged anti-abortion groups.

Dr. Henry Morgentaler is one of 75 Canadians to receive honours for their contribution to the country. 

The Governor General announced the new inductees on Tuesday after the names were recommended by an advisory panel.

Video of the May 3 Torture and the American Psyche: Blurring the Boundaries Between Healers and Interrogators forum in Brookline MA is now available. This forum featured Stephen Soldz, David Sloan-Rossiter (Boston psychoanalyst and Curriculum Director at the Boston Institute for Psychotherapy & the Massachusetts Institute of Psychoanalysis, Leonard Rubenstein (President of Physicians for Human Rights), and Eric Fair (former interrogator in Iraq).

Psyche, Science, and Society » Video: Torture and American Psyche forum

Stephen Soldz’s recent critique of the APA’s Ethics Director Stephen Behnke’s recent letter to the ACLU.

Stephen Soldz: APA Supports Psychologist Engagement in Interrogations

Stephen Soldz writes about the NY times article that exposes the horrifying conditions at the Guantanamo prison and the continued role of Psychologists there. Will APA act?

Psyche, Science, and Society » Isolation driving Guantanamo detainees insane: Will APA act?

Thanks to a new report from ABC News, we now know that Condoleezza Rice led White House meetings authorizing torture that were so detailed, “the interrogation sessions were almost choreographed.”Watch the video: Condoleezza Rice Must GO