ACP American College of Physicians - Internal Medicine - Doctors for Adults

Health and human rights are interrelated. When human rights are promoted, health is promoted... Physicians have an important role to play in promoting health and human rights, and addressing social inequities. Ethics Manual, Fifth Edition.

Policy Statements

• The Health Effects of Economic Sanctions and Embargoes: The Role of Health Professionals
• The Role of the Physician and the Medical Profession in the Prevention of International Torture and in the Treatment of Its Survivors
• Physician participation in interrogation: (Revision to the American College of Physicians Ethics Manual, June 3, 2008)

College Advocacy for Humane Treatment of Prisoners and Detainees

• The American College of Physicians (ACP), the American Medical Association (AMA) and the American Psychiatric Association (APA) commend President Barack Obama (March 3, 2009) for issuing an Executive Order, Ensuring Lawful Interrogations "promoting the safe, lawful and humane treatment of detained individuals."
• College writes to Secretary Michael Chertoff, US Department of Homeland Security, in support of health workers who fulfill ethical obligations in times of armed conflict (letter March 7, 2008).
• College comments (November 16, 2005) on the Department of Defense Medical Program Principles and Procedures for the Protection and Treatment of Detainees in the Custody of the Armed Forces of the United States.
• ACP supports proposed amendments to the Department of Defense Authorization Bill letter to U.S. Senator John McCain (September 21, 2005). The amendments prohibit cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment of persons under custody or control of the U.S. Government and restrict interrogation of prisoners and detainees to techniques authorized in the Section on Intelligence Interrogation in the U.S. Army Field Manual.
• ACP calls upon President Bush to order a formal review of U.S. interrogation practices around the world to ensure humane treatment of prisoners, consistent with human rights and international law:
  ACP to President Bush Letter: 23-October-2003
  ACP to President Bush 17-May-2004
  White House Responds to ACP Staff 12-October 2004

Other Human Rights Resources for Physicians

Physicians for Human Rights (physiciansforhumanrights.org/)

Related Links

• Where We Stand: ACP Advocacy Issues
• End-of-Life Care Patient Education Project
• Conflict of Interest Disclosure System

Ethics Resources

• Announcements and Conferences
• Books
• Volunteering
• Bioethics Resources
• Procedures for Complaints Against Physician Members