An editorial "Hypocritical Oath: Psychologists and Torture," by Amy Goodman, based on a segment of the program "Democracy Now," contains numerous factual errors and omissions about APA's work on ethics and interrogations. As examples:
Over the past 20 years, APA has made no less than five statements regarding its absolute, unequivocal and emphatic prohibition against torture. The 2006 Resolution states that psychologists must work in accordance with international human rights instruments relevant to their roles. The editorial makes no reference whatsoever to these statements, or even as much as acknowledges them.
The position that torture and abusive interrogation tactics are unethical and immoral, as well as ineffective is the position APA is vigorously fighting for in the ongoing debate over interrogation techniques. Numerous psychologists on the PENS task force have played, and are playing central roles in this fight. Dr. Mike Gelles, whose actions are detailed in an article by Jane Mayer in the New Yorker Magazine, called detainee abuses to the attention of Alberto Mora at the Pentagon, who then fought for the protection of human rights and against abusive interrogations. Dr. Larry James was sent to Abu Ghraib prison after detainee abuses became known, to work to prevent further such abuses from occurring. Dr. Robert Fein, whose work was recently described in the New York Times as gaining increasing attention at high levels of the government, is chair of a group emphasizing the lack of any empirical basis to support harsh interrogation techniques. The editorial mentions none of these individuals or their work. Regarding what the editorial states about Dr. Morgan Banks and SERE techniques, Jane Mayer states in a July 2005 article (New Yorker Magazine) that Morgan Banks required graduates of SERE training to sign a statement promising not to apply the program's counter-resistance methods to U.S.-held detainees. The editorial (which incorrectly states that Salon.com was first to discuss Dr. Morgan Banks and SERE) makes no mention of this fact.
The editorial states that the American Psychiatric Associations and American Medical Associations have "both passed resolutions prohibiting members from participating in interrogations." In fact, when the American Psychiatric Association released its position statement on interrogations, its president stated that the position is not "an ethical rule" and that military psychiatrists following orders "wouldn't get into trouble with" the psychiatric association for participating in interrogations. The AMA has yet to release its full report on the role of physicians in interrogations.
Dr. Jean Maria Arrigo vigorously and openly took notes throughout the entire PENS task force meeting. She has now provided those notes to private individuals, to a University, and to the Senate Armed Services Committee. The agreement about confidentiality was made among task force members, with the only input from APA being that the issue of confidentiality needed to be discussed. At no point was there any attempt by anyone from APA to discourage Dr. Arrigo from taking notes, or doing with her notes whatever she chose, and any suggestion to the contrary is simply false.
The editorial states that the members of the PENS Task Force were "secret." Again, this statement is simply false. The names and biographical statements of the task members were provided to the Council of Representatives (approximately 165 individuals) shortly after the Task Force was named, several weeks before the Task Force met in June of 2005. At no point were any restrictions placed on the further dissemination of this information, which was also posted on an APA division website well before the Task Force met.
The editorial fails to mention that in the fall of 2006 the president of APA signed onto a letter drafted by Physicians for Human Rights that explicitly called for the prohibition of techniques discussed in the editorial, such as stress positions, sleep deprivation, sensory deprivation and overload, induced hypothermia, and waterboarding.
APA is funding an extensive program at its 2007 Convention that will include guests on the segment of "Democracy Now" on which the editorial is based-Dr. Arrigo and attorney Len Rubenstein (incorrectly identified in the editorial as "Dr"). APA strongly believes that these individuals, who take significant issue with APA's work on interrogations, have enormously important contributions to make, which APA welcomes. APA is also extremely pleased that Dr. Nina K. Thomas, who served on the PENS Task Force and was also on the "Democracy Now" segment, will be on the Convention program.
"Democracy Now" neither invited a spokesperson from the APA staff to participate in the program, nor informed APA that the segment was to take place.
Sarah Jordan Division Services Office American Psychological Association 750 First Street, NE Washington, DC 20002-4242 (202) 336-6022 FAX: (202) 218-3599 Email: sjordan@apa.org
