Nihil nocere vs. submissive Obedience: Casuistry in Professional Ethics of Physicians and Psychologists in South America

Abstract

The practice of medical doctors and psychologists during the civil-military governments in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay, temporarily parallel in the second half of the 20th century, shows strong similarities, and its study confronts us with moments of crisis in professional ethics. In all three countries, a widespread psychological warfare against opponents created a climate of intimidation, fear and oppression and placed professional activity in situations of conflict with human rights and ethics. The behavior adopted by such professionals varied: some members of these disciplines put their knowledge at the disposal of the coercive system; others maintained an ethical attitude in their daily management and/or made public the mistreatment of human rights. Based on field and documentary research, this essay analyzes a casuistry of such circumstances and shows in exemplary situations how the notion of professional ethics was systematically damaged, as well as what actions were taken for its defense and restitution.