Article Content

I did not write that all military nurses and physicians assisted in torture. Steven H. Miles, author of the Lancet article referred to, wrote, "Which medical professionals were responsible for this misconduct? The U.S. Armed Forces deploy physicians, physicians' assistants, nurses, medics . . . and various command and administrative staff. International statements assert that every health-care worker has an ethical duty to oppose torture." He went on to say the United Nations General Assembly also lists nurses in that number. And the General Assembly document he cites, Principles of Medical Ethics Relevant to the Protection of Prisoners Against Torture (http://www.cioms.ch/frame_1983_texts_of_guidelines.htm), says, "It is a gross contravention of medical ethics, as well as an offence under applicable international instruments, for health personnel, particularly physicians, to engage, actively or passively, in acts which constitute participation in, complicity in, incitement to or attempts to commit torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment." Nurses are held to the same standard as physicians. Silence is a violation of that standard.