PHR Action Center

The 'Bush torture memos' confirm in no uncertain terms that doctors and psychologists were directly involved in the planning and execution of interrogations at U.S. Military prisons; interrogations that were torture, and therefore violations of U.S. and international law. This conduct shows contempt for medical and professional ethics.

Yet none of the health professionals involved who are known by name have lost their professional license to practice. Their conduct is well documented and has been brought to the attention of the appropriate associations and the licensing boards through formal complaints. For whatever reason, those bodies have not acted on the information.

In light of this, a new piece of legislation has been introduced in New York State that reaffirms health professionals' commitment to ethical conduct when working with detainee populations. It will create mechanisms to prevent these abuses from being repeated. It states that the duty of a health professional is to heal and never to harm, no matter who the patient is, or who the employer is.

To make sure this bill gets to Albany to be voted on, we need your help. Your senators need to hear from you today. Send them an email urging them to co-sponsor this bill and stop torture by New York health professionals.

Bill A. 6665 is sponsored in the Assembly by Assemblyman Richard Gottfried. In the Senate, the same bill is S. 4495, Sponsored by Senator Tom Duane. Both are Chairmen of the Health Committees in their respective houses. The bill will prohibit all New York-licensed health care professionals, wherever they are employed, from having direct involvement in interrogations of prisoners. It therefore will guard against health professionals becoming involved in improper treatment or torture of prisoners. It includes a duty to report, and protection for those who do report. The bill provides useful legal definitions, and spells out what is appropriate practice in complex correctional settings. The bill is meant to apply to any New York State licensed health professional, whether they are working in or out of state. You can read the full text of the bill here http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=A06665

Sign on today, and forward to 6 friends. Help New York say no to torture.

Physicians for Human Rights is collaborating with the New York Campaign Against Torture, a group of health professionals and advocates, to build support for Bill [A. 6665 / S. 4495]. If you would like to reach us, please email Kathleen Sullivan at ksullivan [at] phrusa [dot] org or call her at 617-301-4200.

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

As a resident in your electoral district, I urge you to support and vote for Bill [A. 6665 / S. 4495] in the [Assembly / Senate], sponsored in both houses by the respective Chairs of the Health Committees, Assemblyman Richard Gottfried and Senator Tom Duane.

In April, President Obama released four torture authorization memos by Bush administration lawyers that devised a legal framework for the justification of the Torture Program. These memos, along with reports by the Senate Armed Services Committee and the International Committee of the Red Cross, confirmed that physicians and psychologists were integral to the design, rationalization and practice of torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment of prisoners in CIA and military detention.

These documents provide evidence that health professionals committed crimes under U.S. and international law and also violated professional misconduct laws and ethical codes. The revelations are truly disturbing and the practices they reveal must be stopped. And, because we know that opportunities for abuse exist wherever people are held in custody, all such abuse must be stopped.

Bill [A. 6665 / S. 4495] is an important first step in addressing these issues because it affirms that health care professionals must always respect their ethical codes, and that their duty to do no harm applies just as strongly when working with people in custody.

This bill offers invaluable support for those who refuse orders to engage in improper conduct, and to those who report it to appropriate authorities. It also serves a necessary educational function for health professionals who work in closed institutions.

We cannot allow any physician, psychologist or other health care professional to turn a New York healing license into a tool of torture or abuse. Holding a New York license to provide health care is a privilege that comes with responsibilities, and if health care professionals fail to comply with those responsibilities, they must be held accountable. As a constituent who believes in the rule of law, and who relies on New York laws and regulations to protect my mind and body from health care professionals who would harm others, this bill is vitally important to me.

For all these reasons, please ensure that Bill [A. 6665 / S. 4495] becomes law in 2009.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
May 20, 2009