A critical review: Doctor, torture and Tokyo declaration

Abstract

Following World War II, especially after the famous Nuremberg Trial, involvement of doctors in human torture came to light. Various international bodies like UN, WMA, Red Cross, understood the magnitude of this problem. Tireless effort of these bodies, to protect humanity against torture by doctors, has, brought forward several charters, with an aim that individuals do not suffer from cruelty and degrading treatment. Duty of doctor as per Hippocratic code of ethics is not to use professional knowledge to harm humanity. Regretfully doctors are getting involved in torture, having forgotten both Hippocratic code of ethics and the fundamentals of Tokyo declaration –A doctor must not for any reason, take part in the practice of torture as the role of doctor is to relieve distress of his/her fellow person.