Quantifying medical evaluations of torture survivors: An analysis of 63 narrative reports from Denmark
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7146/torture.v36i2.169589Keywords:
torture and ill-treatment, health, documentation of torture, istanbul protocolAbstract
Introduction
Denmark receives asylum seekers who allege to have experienced torture in different geographical and political contexts. The Istanbul Protocol provides internationally recognized guidelines for medico-legal documentation of such incidents. Doctors from Amnesty International’s Medical Group regularly conduct medical evaluations of asylum seekers, that were analyzed to assess the prevalence and patterns of alleged torture methods and their health consequences.
Methods
Data from medical evaluations were coded, entered into a database, and subsequently exported to RStudio 4.4.3 (1) for analysis. Torture methods were grouped into physical, sexual, psychological, and deprivation categories. Symptoms were summarized for two periods, i.e. within one month after the alleged torture, and at the time of the medical evaluation.
Results
63 evaluations were carried out during 2013-2025 in persons aged 12-70 years and born in 18 different countries. Collectively, 103 torture episodes were reported with a mean number of distinct torture methods of 10.7 per person. Exposure to physical torture methods was reported by 96.8%, psychological torture by 87.3%, deprivation by 81.0%, and sexual torture by 39.7%. Most episodes occurred in police stations (33.0%) and prisons (17.5%). Many reported physical symptoms at time of evaluation, and 85.7% of individuals scored an HTQ above 2.5, suggestive of PTSD. Torture episodes reported by women were significantly more likely to include sexual torture. Significant associations were found between teléfono and hearing loss, and between falanga and reduced sensation in lower limbs.
Discussion
This study illustrates the additional epidemiological value of transforming narrative reports into systematically structured data that allows for hypothesis-generating analyses of torture exposure and health outcomes and offers opportunities to explore patterns over time and across contexts. Wider adoption of standardized documentation analytical frameworks and complementary quantitative health measures may contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the health consequences of torture and other ill-treatment.
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