Watch Doctors of the Dark Side

Doctors of the Dark Side is a 2011 documentary film directed by Martha Davis that delves into the atrocities committed by the United States military towards the detainees at Abu Ghraib. The movie stars Diane Davis, Gian-Murray Gianino, and Lee Aaron Rosen. The film starts by discussing the treatment of the detainees at Abu Ghraib and how they were subjected to torture and abuse beyond what is legally sanctioned. The film points out that the problem was not isolated to a few rogue soldiers, but was systemic throughout the military.

The filmmakers interview various experts on this topic, including military personnel who witnessed the abuse and lawyers who represented the detainees. They provide insight into how the military was able to perpetrate such heinous acts in direct violation of the Geneva Convention.

One of the most interesting aspects of the film is the discussion of how medical professionals were deeply involved in the torture and abuse of detainees. The film reveals that doctors and psychologists were complicit in designing and implementing the torture techniques used on prisoners, completely contradicting their duties to "do no harm."

The documentary examines the role of psychologists who devised these torture methods, which included physical and psychological abuse, as well as a sleep deprivation technique that was used in order to extract information. These methods were approved at the highest levels of the U.S. government and military.

The film also details the involvement of military medical personnel in the abuse, including the use of medical treatment as a tool to control and manipulate detainees through drugs which led to prolonged psychological effects. The team of doctors, nurses, and medics worked hand in hand with the military, making it a moral imperative that was deemed unethical and illegal.

Doctors of the Dark Side goes into even greater depth when discussing the role of doctors at Abu Ghraib. It highlights how medical professionals were actively encouraged to participate in torture, which completely contradicts their duty to protect and care for patients.

The interviews with former detainees who were subjected to torture reveal the long-lasting trauma that they experienced. The survivors describe the physical and emotional scars they bear as a result of their treatment while in custody.

The documentary also covers the aftermath, including the military trials of some of the soldiers who committed these crimes, which ended up proving minimal punishment compared to the damage done. Proving that even though the soldiers were convicted for their inhuman acts, the higher officials who encouraged it went unpunished, and the detainees were never given any rehabilitation or aid for the suffering they faced.

Overall, Doctors of the Dark Side is an emotional and thought-provoking film that exposes the disturbing reality of those detained by the US government. It raises important ethical questions about the role of medical professionals in torture and the use of torture as a tool of interrogation. This is a well-done documentary that delivers a powerful message.

Doctors of the Dark Side is a 2011 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 14 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.9.