September 2015
Dear Colleagues in the International Community,
Several weeks ago, we wrote to express our concerns about the findings of the independent review of APA’s involvement with interrogation procedures during the Bush administration (2001-2008). The independent review (also referred to as the Hoffman Report), commissioned by APA’s Board of Directors, found there was undisclosed coordination between some APA officials and military psychologists that resulted in ethical guidance for psychologists in national security settings that was no less restrictive than Defense Department interrogation guidelines. The findings were deeply disturbing and required action.
Many of you responded to our letter, noting that you would be reviewing APA’s actions in response to the findings of the report, and offering your support and advice. We are writing now to let you know about the first steps that APA has taken to address the issues raised in the report.
During the recent APA annual convention in Toronto, Canada, the APA Council of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to prohibit psychologists from participating in military and national security interrogations involving military or intelligence authorities.
The resolution:
- states that psychologists “shall not conduct, supervise, be in the presence of, or otherwise assist any national security interrogations for any military or intelligence entities, including private contractors working on their behalf, nor advise on conditions of confinement insofar as these might facilitate such an interrogation,” yet they can be involved in providing general policy guidance concerning humane interrogations;
- redefines the term “cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment” in accordance with the UN Convention Against Torture, to ensure it provides protections to everyone, everywhere, including foreign detainees held outside of the United States;
- urges the U.S. government to withdraw its understandings of and reservations to the UN Convention Against Torture in keeping with the recent recommendation of the UN Committee Against Torture;
- clarifies that the UN Committee Against Torture and the UN Special Rapporteur Against Torture would serve as the authorities for determining whether certain detention settings would fall under the purview of the 2008 petition resolution as operating in violation of international law;
- continues to offer APA as a supportive resource for the ethical practice of psychologists in organizational settings (including those in the military and national security roles), while recognizing that they strive to achieve and are responsible to uphold the highest levels of competence and ethics in their professional work;
- clarifies that psychologists can only provide mental health services to military personnel or work for an independent third party to protect human rights at national security detention facilities deemed by the United Nations to be in violation of international law, such as the U.N. Convention Against Torture and the Geneva Conventions, and
- ensures that federal officials will be informed of the expanded APA human rights policy, and requests that psychologists at these sites be offered deployment elsewhere.
The prohibition does not apply to U.S. domestic law enforcement interrogations or domestic detention settings where detainees are afforded all of the protections of the U.S. Constitution.
The Council also voted to create a blue-ribbon panel of psychologists and non-psychologist experts to review APA’s Ethics Office and ethics policies and procedures and issue recommendations to ensure our policies are clear and aligned with the very best practices in the field. In addition, we will institute clearer conflict-of-interest policies going forward.
These positive actions are significant and concrete steps toward rectifying past organizational shortcomings. APA is moving forward with an intention to be clearly focused on human rights and our core values as psychologists. In doing so, we continue to value your input and advice.
In closing, we appreciated that some of you were present at the APA convention, including as observers at the Council meeting and attendees at the Town Hall meeting. For you, and those that did not attend, we look forward to the next time we meet.
With all best regards,
Susan McDaniel, PhD, ABPP
APA President-elect
Nadine Kaslow, PhD, ABPP
APA Past President