The Medical Documentation of Torture

Until recently, almost all of the medical input to criminal and civil prosecutions relating to allegations of torture was from forensic pathologists investigating mass graves. It is now recognised, however, that witness evidence from those who survive atrocities can be supported by medical experts in documenting torture both immediately and many years after the event. As is patently evident from news coverage, the number of asylum seekers in the West fleeing persecution abroad has increased steadily and there is a real need to provide those involved in examining these individuals with a comprehensive reference source which will underpin the Istanbul Protocol and provide the academic background for bringing prosecutions against alleged torturers before the newly mandated International Criminal Court.

1. The Problem of Torture James Welsh; 2. The Approach of International Tribunals to Medical Evidence in Cases Involving Allegations of Torture Camille Giffard and Sir Nigel Rodley; 3. Documenting a Well-Founded Fear: How Medical Caregivers Can Assist Torture Survivors in the Asylum Process? Barbara Frey; 4. Doctors and Torture Ann Somerville, Hernan Reyes and Michael Peel; 5. Visits to Prisoners and Documentation of Torture Hernan Reyes; 6. History Taking Vincent Iacopino; 7. The Psychological Consequences of Torture Kathleen Allden; 8. Physical Examination Following Allegations of Recent Torture Onder Ozkalipci; 9. Physical Examination for Late Signs of Torture Robert Kirschner and Michael Peel; 10. Examination Following Specific Forms of Torture Duncan Forrest; 11. The Sexual Abuse of Females Gill Hinshelwood; 12. Male Sexual Abuse in Detention Michael Peel; 13. The Examination and Investigation of Electric Shock Injuries Lis Danielsen; 14. Radiodiagnostic Approaches in the Documentation of Torture Semite Aytaclar and Veli Lok.