Is Australia engaged in torturing asylum seekers? A cautionary tale for Europe

• Published in: Journal of medical ethics Vol. 42; no. 7; pp. 420 - 423
• Main Authors: Sanggaran, John-Paul, Zion, Deborah
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Institute of Medical Ethics and BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 01-07-2016; BMJ Publishing Group Ltd; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Accountability; Analysis; Asylum; Asylum seekers; Australia; Bioethics; Child abuse; Child abuse & neglect; Conflict of Interest; Detention; Detention of persons; Emigration and immigration; Emigration and Immigration - legislation & jurisprudence; Evidence; Health care; Health care industry; Human rights; Human Rights - legislation & jurisprudence; Human Rights Abuses - ethics; Human Rights Abuses - legislation & jurisprudence; Human Rights Abuses - statistics & numerical data; Human rights violations; Humans; Immigration; Immigration detention; Imprisonment; International cooperation; Mandatory Reporting - ethics; Moral Obligations; Murders & murder attempts; Prime ministers; Professional Role; Refugees; Sanctions; Sex crimes; Sex Offenses - ethics; Sex Offenses - statistics & numerical data; Torture; Torture - ethics; Torture - statistics & numerical data; Transparency; Treaties; Wellbeing; Australia; Nauru; Europe; Manus Island; Torture and Genocide; Right to Healthcare; Prisoners
• ISSN: 0306-6800; 1473-4257
• DOI: 10.1136/medethics-2015-103326

Australian immigration detention has been identified as perpetuating ongoing human rights violations. Concern has been heightened by the assessment of clinicians involved and by the United Nations that this treatment may in fact constitute torture. We discuss the allegations of torture within immigration detention, and the reasons why healthcare providers have an ethical duty to report them. Finally, we will discuss the protective power of ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment as a means of providing transparency and ethical guidance.