WASHINGTON — The American Psychological Association reacted to the settlement of the case against two psychologists who allegedly devised and implemented the CIA’s “enhanced interrogation” techniques by asserting that this does not absolve them of responsibility for violating the ethics of their profession.
“We are relieved that James Mitchell and John ‘Bruce’ Jessen abandoned their ill-advised effort to fight the lawsuit alleging that they were responsible for harming three men who were imprisoned and tortured in a secret CIA prison,” said APA President Antonio E. Puente, PhD. “However, this settlement in no way absolves them of responsibility for violating the ethics of their profession and leaving a stain on the discipline of psychology. We hope that the settling of this case gives some solace to the three plaintiffs and others who endured similar treatment.”
The settlement was announced by the American Civil Liberties Union, which filed the case in Spokane, Washington, on behalf of three men who were imprisoned and tortured in a secret CIA prison during the George W. Bush administration’s “war on terror.”
APA has a long history of prohibiting torture. Since 1985, APA has issued numerous policies condemning torture, which have been reaffirmed and refined over the years. APA’s policies draw upon international human rights instruments and have expressly adopted the definitions of torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in the U.N. Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. APA’s policy prohibits psychologists from participating in national security interrogations at detention settings operating in violation of the U.S. Constitution or international law. Jessen was never a member of APA. Mitchell resigned his APA membership in 2006.
In 2010, APA sent a letteropens in new window (PDF, 94KB) to the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists, which was considering a complaint against Mitchell. In it, APA asserted that Mitchell’s alleged conduct with respect to interrogation techniques would have been sufficient to expel him from membership, had he been a member.
The American Psychological Association, in Washington, D.C., is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States. APA's membership includes nearly 115,700 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. Through its divisions in 54 subfields of psychology and affiliations with 60 state, territorial and Canadian provincial associations, APA works to advance the creation, communication and application of psychological knowledge to benefit society and improve people's lives.