LETTER TO THE EDITOR

The following letter to the editor, written by APA President Ronald Levant, Ph.D., appeared in the New York Times as a response to the article, Guantanamo Tour Focuses on Medical Ethics By Neil A. Lewis

To the Editor:

Your article, Guantanamo Tour Focuses on Medical Ethics (November 13), fails to state that the American Psychological Association's position on psychologists' involvement in national security investigations is clear and unwavering: It is unethical for psychologists to participate in torture or other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment, under any circumstances, at any time, for any reason. There are no exceptions. Psychologists who learn of such behavior have an ethical obligation to report it to the authorities.

The article also neglects critical points that distinguish the position of the American Psychological Association from that of the American Psychiatric Association. Psychologists may never opt out of their ethical responsibilities by claiming to be something other than a psychologist, such as a behavioral consultant. Moreover, the Psychology Ethics Code, which applies to all of a psychologist's work, will be enforced against any psychologist who steps outside these strict ethical guidelines.  Finally, by virtue of their training, psychologists who contribute their professional expertise to protect innocent life are in a unique position to help ensure that interrogations are conducted in a safe, legal, ethical, and effective manner.

Ronald F. Levant, EdD, ABPP, MBA

President, American Psychological Association

Dean and Professor of Psychology
Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences
The University of Akron
Akron, OH 44325-1901

Phone: 330-972-7882
Fax: 330-972-7222
Cell: 330-414-3219
Email: Levant@uakron.edu
Website: www.DrRonaldLevant.com
President, American Psychological Association, 2005 "Making Psychology a Household Word"

This letter was reprinted with the permission of Dr. Levant.

The website of the American Psychological Association is www.apa.org