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, Sixth Edition.

Policy Statements & Letters of Support

• ACP April 6, 2012 letter reiterating human rights and medical neutrality concerns to the government of Bahrain
• ACP joined Physicians for Human Rights in a call for Bahrain to cease attacks on hospitals, patients and medical professionals
• The College and 19 health professional associations urge President Obama to support a US ban on the use, trade, production and stockpiling of antipersonnel mines
• ACP supports Saudi physicians and hospitals that refuse to intentionally inflict harm as punishment in retribution for injury to another
• 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

• In June, 2010, the College appeals to the Cuban government for the release of physicians imprisoned for their human rights activities. Read the letter
• March 3, 2009, ACP, the American Medical Association (AMA) and the American Psychiatric Association (APA) commend President Barack Obama for issuing an Executive Order, Ensuring Lawful Interrogations "promoting the safe, lawful and humane treatment of detained individuals."
• March 2008, ACP writes to Secretary Michael Chertoff, US Department of Homeland Security, in support of health workers who fulfill ethical obligations in times of armed conflict.
• November, 2005, ACP comments 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.
• September, 2005, ACP supports proposed amendments to the Department of Defense Authorization Bill letter to U.S. Senator John McCain . 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: October 2003
  ACP to President Bush: May 2004
  White House Responds to ACP Staff: October 2004

Other Human Rights Resources for Physicians

Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) is an independent organization that uses medicine and science to stop mass atrocities and severe human rights violations against individuals. Visit their website.

Related Links

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

Ethics Resources

• Annual Meeting and Announcements
• Volunteering
• Bioethics Resources
• Procedures for Complaints Against Physician Members