The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

3369.0: Monday, November 17, 2003 - 4:35 PM

Abstract #74338

Assault on civil liberties

H. Jack Geiger, MD, Dept. of Community Health and Social Medicine, City University of New York Medical School, 138th Street and Covent Avenue, New York, NY 10031, 212-650-6860, jgeiger@igc.org

In the name of a “war on terrorism,” a steadily escalating assault has been mounted on the rights and liberties of Americans—citizens and non-citizens alike—in violation of the Constitution, international human rights law, and international treaties. These assaults include unauthorized extensions of the power of the Executive branch, its Department of Justice, and its intelligence agencies; the restriction both of judicial review and Congressional oversight, and the violation of multiple sections of the Bill of Rights. Among the specific consequences are: the creation of secret military tribunals outside the civilian justice system; indefinite detention without charge and access to counsel; misuse of material witness statutes; removal of statutory separation of intelligence and criminal justice systems; and massive invasions of the rights to privacy,freedom of speech, reading and personal communication, due process, and freedom from unwarranted search and seizure. Consequences to public health will be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

Keywords: War, Bioterrorism

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Terrorism and Public Health

The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA