APA Votes Overwhelmingly Against Psychologists Participating In Torture

++It seems obvious but given the revelations about the two psychologists making millions to devise America's "enhanced interrogation techniques" the APA , now meeting in Toronto, felt compelled by its members to address the subject because it runs counter to everything psychologists are committed to.
Could the AMA be far behind?

++The APA Council of Representatives voted 156-1,with seven abstentions and 1 recusal, to prohibit psychologists from participating in national security interrogations. 

++"Psychologists shall not conduct,supervise, be in the presence or otherwise assist any national security entities, including private contractors working for them or advise them on conditions of confinement which facilitates interrogation. "

++As a general policy,the APA can advise the government on a policy of humane interrogations. 

++The APA created a blue-ribbon panel to review the APA's ethics policies and procedures and issue recommendations.

++I applaud the APA on this stance. The negative publicity surrounding the horrifying notion that psychologists would design and implement torture programs for the US Government certainly created the pressure to take these actions.

++But could we be frank. Aside from our two notorious torturers-- who banked millions from contracts--American psychologists were bamboozled by government authorities to cooperate with the W Administration. These government authorities were often asked to devise these methods with the explicit intent not to have them as torture. And far away from where these practices were used. So who do you consult, considering you believe yourself you are trying to prevent exactly, unbeknownst to you,what your own government is actually doing? 

++At least today statement provides a way to hold an honest dialogue about this. I look forward to the Ethics Board's recommendations.