Why not truth serum instead of torture?

[itzamirakul]

Throughout my long life I have often wondered why truth serum was not administered when a suspected rapist, murderer or other person suspected of some heinous crime would not admit the act.

Now I wonder why truth serum is not used in place of torturing suspected terrorists.

Perhaps I am crazy, but I think these people really ENJOY the torture that they order and commit on others.

[Spinzonner]

1. You've got it ...

takes all the fun out of it

[bowens43]

2. How is the forced use of mind altering drugs not torture?

[itzamirakul]

6. I have had sodium pentathoyl (sp?) on at least

three different occasions while having dental work done and I understand that that drug is considered "truth serum". I did not find it torturous at all.

[tiddly]

3. Because "truth serum" is a myth, see this web site

http://www.psicologia.freeservers.com/diversos/soro_verdade.html

"This drug received its nickname "truth serum" after its effects. After taking "truth serum" the patients become very communicative, sharing their thoughts without hesitation. It is common misperception to assume that the truth serum will make you tell the truth. The patient may lose the inhibition, but will not lose self-control. Therefore, the patient will not tell the truth if he/she chooses not to do so."

[lectrobyte]

5. Right, truth serum doesn't work. Neither does torture, I suspect.

Wouldn't you tell them anything to make them stop?

[sherilocks]

13. The following disclaimer is under the article

"A disclaimer: Please be aware that these are student projects, produced as an educational exercise for the class. These articles were not written by experts on the topics."

I'm not an expert either. I had minor surgery a few years ago. I was given sodium pentathol as the anesthetic. When I came out of it, I found myself discussing a very personal matter with the surgeon. So personal, in fact, that I would not have discussed with any but a very small number of very close friends.

[TahitiNut]

4. How about basic human rights instead of torture?

:eyes:

[cali]

7. There really is no such substance as "truth serum"

Sodium Pentothol is the drug most people refer to as truth serum. It's a fairly short acting barbituate that relaxes inhibitions, but will not make people respond truthfully to questions. Beyond that, there is an argument to be made (and it has been) that injecting drugs into someone constitutes torture.

[Democracy Died 2004]

8. Jesus frigging christ here we go again.

Coercing, torture, self-incrimination, or any other method is illegal. Why the fuck anyone would even consider breaking these rights are beyond my comprehension.
If anyone even thinks that this is a good idea then i suggest you start it out by allowing the police to beat the shit out of you for a confession. Let them stick a needle in you against your will. JESUS FUCKING CHRIST! Stop it people we do not have to become like these scum to win again.

[tiddly]

9. Nice post

Here is the setup:

You & your family are visiting a another country.

Your wife & son are kidnapped and a threat is made that both will die if you do not pay a ransom and a kidnapper captured during the kidnap is not freed.

The Government of that country asks you to sign a release that says you are requesting moderate levels of torture (sleep deprivation, loud noise, uncomfortable positions, threats of pain) to gather information that may save your son & wife. You ask wouldn't the kidnapper just lie to avoid the torture. The Government official smiles and says, "of course, but we know what to look for and our questioning is designed to determine what is true and what is not".

Without the release signed, they can do nothing.

What do you do?

I know what 99% of American's would do and I think you do too.

[Democracy Died 2004]

12. Oh dear God

If we have to start coming up with bizarre scenarios that would justify torture we are doomed. Of course i want to protect my family and may be inclined to agree. That is why my FEELINGS are not part of the law. If we based law on feelings and passion we are fucked. TORTURE IS WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG.

[PA Democrat]

14. Instead of concocting a far-out unlikely scenario as justification

to torture anyone the Bush administration so desires, why don't you consider the very real and well-documented fact that bad information obtained through torture can have dire consequences, like starting an unnecessary war?

Read this:

http://www.americanprogress.org/site/pp.asp?c=biJRJ8OVF&b=134740

But then looking at some of your other posts, I see that you favor citing the unproven hypothetical as justification to trample the rights of millions.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2910444

[Jesus H. Christ]

15. Isn't torture why Saddam was so bad?

Funny how Americans will advocate being just as bad as Saddam.

[Solon]

16. And then you recieve bad information and you family's bodies...

are floating in a river. So not only are you destroyed because of your family's deaths, but you destroyed your own humanity by signing said paper.

[radwriter0555]

10. well now that wouldn't be as much FUN, now, would it???

Please. Torture serves the perpetrators.

[HereSince1628]

11. Lest we forget...there is still the 5th amendment to the Constitution

Hyperbole and sarcasm set aside, now we are reading posts suggesting circumventing the Bill of Rights on DU