The American Psychological Association conference was held in Boston from August 14-16. Those of us who have been following the stories about psychologists' involvement in CIA and Guantanamo interrogations were hoping for a strong statement against any participation. On August 16, the group issued their statement.
For background, go to
http://www.nytimes.com
and go to Today's Paper, scroll to bottom for calendar, click on the 16th.
The statement can be read in full here. It begins with a clear and unmistakeable stand against any participation by psychologists in all interrogations using "enhanced" techniques.
The American Psychological Association is deeply concerned about the alleged involvement of a psychologist in an abusive interrogation of a Guantanamo detainee. While the psychologist who has been named is not an APA member, the Association's position is steadfast. No psychologist – APA member or not - should be directly or indirectly involved in any form of detention or interrogation that could lead to psychological or physical harm to a detainee. APA has specifically prohibited 19 interrogation techniques as torture, noting that this list is not exhaustive. No psychologist should ever have any involvement, direct or indirect, in the use of such techniques, which include waterboarding, hooding, forced nudity or stress positions, in an interrogation. Doing so would be a clear violation of the profession's ethical standards.
The statement continues by encouraging the government to continue investigations, and reiterates its 2007 call for the full cooperation in such investigations of its members. It also supports the legal rights afforded detainees by the Supreme Court.
Previously, the APA was less clear, unlike the American Psychiatric Assn.
Psychologists used the argument that they sometimes prevented more serious harm to the detainees, much as physicians do who participate in administering the death penalty. Military psychologists who have "consulted" on interrogations now have clear professional guidance.
This statement was issued on the final day of the APA conference by the conference press office.