Torture
The American Psychoanalytic Association joins with other mental health and medical professional organizations in strongly condemning the use of torture.
As an organization of psychoanalysts who have devoted their lives to helping people undo the effects of trauma in their lives, APsaA strongly protests all torture, including any governmentally administered and governmentally approved torture of people who are detained. Torture degrades those tortured and those torturing. The effects of that physical and moral degradation, we know, are transmitted to the families and offspring of both victims and perpetrators.
APsaA also strongly condemns the participation or oversight by any mental health or medical personnel in any and all aspects of torture. Such actions are contrary to the basic ethical principles fundamental to the helping professions.
Approved June 21, 2007. |