Silent healers: on medical complicity in torture.
OBJECTIVE
To shed light on a large but neglected human rights issue that can be termed passive participation in torture. This is a response to the rising number of statements from torture victims who claim that during their incarceration, medical personnel cooperated with the interrogators by sharing medical documents, giving false statements, and providing other indirect assistance to the interrogator.


METHODS
Cases studies are used to demonstrate the existence of passive participation, as well as situations where the passivity has been addressed and improved. Extracts of international instruments and actions undertaken by associations are used to help the reader address issues around the passive participation in torture.


RESULTS
By reading this article medical professionals will be made aware that action can be undertaken with the help of existing international laws and policies.


CONCLUSIONS
In the conclusion of the article a range of bullet-points is made available for medical professionals who want to address the issue of passive participation.
Mostad
Kenneth
K
kenneth.mostad@gmail.com
Moati
Eva
E
D028661:Complicity; D045809:Human Rights Abuses / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D010819:Physician's Role; D014104:Torture / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence