The WMA Declaration of Tokyo strictly forbids physicians to countenance, condone or participate in the practice of torture or other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and requires them to respect the confidentiality of medical information. Since , in at least eleven countries, physicians have participated in forced anal examinations of men and transgender women who are charged with consensual same-sex conduct.
The WMA is deeply disturbed by the complicity of physicians in these non-voluntary and unscientific examinations, including the preparation of medical reports that are used in trials to convict men and transgender women of consensual same-sex conduct. In accordance with its Statement on Body Searches of Prisoners , the WMA reminds that forced examinations are not ethically acceptable and physicians must not perform them. The ability of persons in custody to provide free and informed consent is limited.
Even when consent is given, physicians should refrain from undertaking procedures that are scientifically unfounded, discriminatory and potentially incriminating. Recognizing that persons who have undergone forced anal exams have described them as painful, humiliating, and amounting to sexual assault and recalling that physicians should never engage in acts of torture or other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, the WMA:. Read more. Back to policies.
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