D-1975-01-1975_OVE
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L’ASSOCIATION MEDICALE MONDIALE, INC ASOCIACION MEDICA MUNDIAL. INC
Telephone: 50 40 75 75
Fax: 5040 S937
October 1975
THE WORLD MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. INC.
B. P. 63 – 01212 FERNEY-VOLTAIRE Cedex, France
28, avenue des Alpes – 01210 FERNEY-VOLTAIRE. France
Cable Address:
WOMEDAS, Ferney-Voltaire
17.F
Original: English
DECLARATION OF TOKYO .
Guidelines for Medical Doctors concerning
Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading
Treatment or Punishment In relation to
Detention and Imprisonment
Adopted by the 29th World Medical Assembly.
Tokyo, Japan. Ckrtober1975
PREAMBLE
It is the privilege of the medical doctor to practise medicine in the service of
humanity, to preserve and restore bodiJyand mental health without distinction as to
persons, to comfort and to ease the suffering of his or her patients. The utmost
respect for human life is to be maintained even under threat, and no use made of any
medical knowledge contrary to the laws of humanity.
For the purpose of this Declaration, torture is defined as the deliberate, systematic or
wanton infliction of physical or mental suffering by one or more persons acting alone
or on the orders of any authority, to force another person to yield information, to
make a confession. or for any other reason.
DECLARATION
1. The doctor shall not countenance, condone or participate in the practice of
torture or other fonns of cruel, inhuman or degrading procedures, whatever the
offence of which the victim of such procedures is suspected, accused or guilty,
and whatever the victim’s beliefs or motives. and in all situations, including armed
conflict and civil strife.
2. The doctor shall not provide any premises, instruments, substances or
knowledge to facilitate the practice of torture or other forms of cruel. inhuman or
degrading treatment or to diminish the ability of the victim to resist such
treatment.
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3. The doctor shall not be present during any procedure during which torture or
other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment is used or threatened.
4. A doctor must have complete clinical independence in deciding upon the care of
a person for whom he or she is medically responsible. The doctor’s fundamental
role is to alleviate the distress of his or her fellow men, and no motive whether
personal, collective or political shall prevail against this higher purpose.
5. Where a prisoner refuses nourishment and is considered by the doctor as
capable of forming an unimpaired and rational judgement concerning the
consequences of such a voluntary refusal of nourishment, he or she shall not be
fed artificially. The decision as to the capacity of the prisoner to form such a
judgement as to the capacity of the prisoner to form such a jUdgement should be
confirmed by at least one other independent doctor. The consequences of the
refusal of nourishment shall be explained by the doctor to the prisoner.
6. The World Medical Association will support, and should encourage the
international community, the national medical associations and fellow doctors to
support the doctor and his or her family in the face of threats or reprisals resulting
from a refusal to condone the use of torture or other forms of cruel, inhuman or
degrading treatment.
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