Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine
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To explore trends in the clinical activity of hospital specialists in English National Health Service (NHS) hospitals, and test the effect of contract reform. ⋯ Consultant clinical activity, as measured by FCEs per month, has shown a general downward trend from 1999 to 2009. The consultant contract was not associated with an increase in consultant clinical activity rates.
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Doctors may assess and treat torture survivors; some may document crucial evidence of torture in medico-legal reports. However, there is a lack of education on torture and related ethical and legal issues at undergraduate and postgraduate level and many doctors are not aware of opportunities to work with organisations for the prevention of torture. ⋯ Medical complicity in torture is discussed and the need for national and international medical associations to prevent torture by both supporting doctors and recognising and tackling medial complicity. The paper offers guidance for assessing and documenting torture, and for providing health care for survivors of torture.