PHR Toolkits » Self-Assessment and Quiz

In which of the following contexts may expert medical reports and testimony be of value?
1. Prosecution of alleged perpetrators
2. Challenging the credibility of statements extracted by torture
3. Reparations and rehabilitation of alleged victims
4. Exonerating law enforcement officials accused of torture and ill treatment
5. Human rights investigations
6. Medical assessments of asylum applicants
7. All of the above
Regardless of the context of a medical evaluation, the purpose of written reports and oral testimony by medical experts is to assess the degree to which physical and psychological findings correlate with the individual allegations of abuse.
1. True
2. False
Which of the following may be relevant qualifications for medical expertise on physical and/or psychological evidence of torture?
1. Medical education and clinical training
2. Psychological/psychiatric training
3. Experience in documenting evidence of torture and Ill-treatment
4. Relevant training courses and seminars
5. Relevant publications and presentations
6. All of the above
Physicians who are not psychiatrists may qualify as experts on psychological evidence of torture and ill treatment:
1. True
2. False
Clinicians should not review the alleged victim’s affidavit as it may create a bias for the evaluating clinician.
1. True
2. False
Which of the following are true about written reports and oral testimony?
1. They require accurate and effective communication skills
2. They should be factual and carefully worded; jargon should be avoided
3. They should not include any opinion(s) that cannot be defended under oath or during cross-examination
4. The quality can only be as good as the interview and examination conducted
5. All of the above
Which of the following sources of information should not be used as a reference to a medical evaluation or torture and ill treatment?
1. Client affidavit of alleged torture and ill treatment
2. NGO (non-governmental organization) Human rights reports
3. Government reports on torture and ill treatment practices
4. Medical records following the alleged torture and ill treatment
5. None of the above
Written reports and oral testimony represent an opportunity for clinicians to educate adjudicators on physical and psychological evidence of torture and ill treatment.
1. True
2. False
Clinicians who are conducting their first medical evaluation may enhance the accuracy and credibility of their evaluation by conducting the evaluation under the supervision of, or having it formally reviewed by, a more experienced clinician.
1. True
2. False
Historical information such as descriptions of torture devices, body positions and methods of restraint, descriptions of acute and chronic wounds and disabilities, and identifying information about perpetrators and the place(s) of detention may be very useful in corroborating an individual’s allegations of torture.
1. True
2. False
The need for medical and/or psychological care should be noted in your medical evaluation only when the alleged torture victim’s attorney requests it.
1. True
2. False
The clinician’s interpretation of findings and conclusions, should relate various categories of evidence, i.e., physical and psychological evidence of torture, and historical information as well.
1. True
2. False
Which of the following considerations support the clinical assessments of credibility and argue against the possibility of malingering or simulation?
1. Lack of over-endorsement of physical and/or psychological symptoms
2. Lack of a suspiciousness or defensiveness
3. Consistency between the observed affect of the interviewee and the content of the evaluation.
4. Consistency between an individual’s pre-torture personality and the meaning the individual assigns to his or her torture/ill treatment experiences
5. Inconsistencies that are attributable to an individual’s torture experience
6. All of the above
Exaggeration of psychological symptoms usually indicates that the individual’s allegation of torture and ill treatment are false.
1. True
2. False
Which of the following may be helpful in explaining inconsistencies in the alleged victim’s account of torture and ill treatment?
1. Disorientation during torture, blindfolding, drugging, and lapses of consciousness
2. Neurological or psychological memory disturbances
3. Feelings of guilt or shame
4. Cultural differences in the perception of time
5. Lack of trust in the examining clinician and/or interpreter
6. Fear of reprisals
7. Lack of privacy during the interview
8. All of the above
It is often helpful to include a statement on the veracity of testimony in a written medical report, such as: “I personally know the facts recited below, except as to those stated on information and belief, which I believe to be true.”
1. True
2. False
The presence of diagnostic criteria for PTSD or Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) provides stronger evidence of torture and/or ill treatment than sub-threshold symptoms of these diagnoses.
1. True
2. False
Which of the following are important considerations for clinicians who provide testimony on torture and ill treatment in court?
1. Do not “react” to provocative statements.
2. Clarify questions that you do not understand before providing an answer.
3. Do not offer opinions on subjects about which you are not qualified to comment.
4. Speak clearly, slowly, and make eye contact with whomever you are speaking.
5. All of the above
Which of the following can help to distinguish psychological symptoms caused by torture and ill treatment versus other traumatic experiences or losses?
1. Temporal relationships between the onset of psychological symptoms and the alleged torture and ill-treatment
2. Trends in psychological symptoms in relation to external stressors
3. Content of nightmares and intrusive recollections
4. Triggers for intrusive recollection, reliving experiences, and avoidance reactions
5. All of the above
Istanbul Protocol guidelines for medical evaluations of alleged torture and ill treatment include a formal assessment of the individual’s credibility.
1. True
2. False