Læknablaðið : fylgirit - 01.09.1977, Blaðsíða 26

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2. For the purpose of this Declaration, torture is defined as
the deliberate, systematic or wanton infliction of physical or
mental suffering by one or more persons acting alone or on the
orders of any authority, to force another person to yield inform-
ation, to make a confession, or for any other reason.
3. The doctor shall not provide any premises, instruments, sub-
stances or knowledge to facilitate the practice of torture or
other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or to dimin-
ish the ability of the victim to resist such treatment.
4. The doctor shall not be present during any procedure during
which torture or other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treat-
ment are used or threatened.
5. A doctor must have complete clinical independence in deciding
upon the care of a person for whom he or she is medically re-
sponsible.
6. Where a prisoner refuses nourishment and is considered by the
doctor as capable of forming an unimpaired and rational judgement
conceming the consequences of such a voluntary refusal of nour-
ishment, he shall not be fed artificially. The decision as to
the capacity of the prisoner to form such a judgement should be
confirmed by at least one other independent doctor. The conse-
quences of the refusal of nourishment shall be explained by the
doctor to the prisoner.
7. The World Medical Association will support, and should en-
courage the intemational community, the national medical asso-
ciations and fellow doctors to support the doctor and his or her
family in the face of threats or reprisals resulting from a re-
fusal to condone the use of torture or other forms of cruel, in-
human or degrading treatment.
8. The doctor shall in all circumstances be bound to alleviate
the distress of his fellow men, and no motive - whether personal,
collective or political - shall prevail against this higher purpose.
REC0MMEM3ATI0N ON THE RIGHTS OF THE SICK AND DYING
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
1. Considering that the rapid and continuing progress of medical
science creates problems, and may even pose certain threats, with
respect to the fundamental human rights and the integrity of sick
people;
2. Noting the tendency for improved medical technology to lead
to an increasingly technical - somtimes less humane - treatment
of patients;