Torture and Role of Medical Practitioners

Torture has existed in the society for time immemorial.In older days torture of alleged criminals, spies, andpolitical prisoners was considered acceptable, but todayin modern civilized society torture in any form forwhatever motive, is considered a crime and universallycondemned. Torture infliction is still prevalent in someform or the other all over the world. According toAmnesty International, the worldwide organization thatmonitors human rights violation, torture is practiced in65 out of 144 countries and is on the rise. Notsurprisingly, in its annual report issued by the UN ontorture 1997, India appears in the list of 29 countries,where torture is fairly extensive,Medical profession and human rights are closelyrelated. Usually doctors are the first ones to come incontact with torture survivors thus can alleviate violationof human rights. Torture Medicine is an evolving branchof clinical Forensic Medicine dealing with medicolegaland ethical aspects of torture.