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de Physicians for Human Rights (U.S.)

A report by PHR and Human Rights First demonstrates that "enhanced" interrogation techniques are likely to cause "severe" or "serious" physical and mental harm to detainees. The report closely examines the Military Commissions Act of 2006 (MCA) and other US laws, informed by medical and psychological literature. It shows that the authorization of these enhanced interrogation techniques, whether practiced alone or in combination, may constitute torture and/or cruel and inhuman treatment and consequently place interrogators at serious legal risk of prosecution for war crimes and other violations. A comprehensive legal and medical analysis of "enhanced" interrogation techniques and similar forms of abuse, particularly psychological techniques, reportedly authorized and used by U.S. personnel. It analyzes the definitions and elements of war crimes, as well as other applicable legal prohibitions, in light of an extensive body of evidence in the medical literature documenting the serious harmful consequences of these techniques.