180 Hours Straight of Sleep Deprivation Is Just Fine
Sleep deprivation for almost six days straight does not cause severe physical suffering, the Bush administration’s Office of Legal Counsel concluded. Although
Jul 31, 2020200.2K Shares3.4M Views
Sleep deprivation for almost six days straight does not cause severe physical suffering, the Bush administration’s Office of Legal Counsel concluded. Although in previous memos, the office had concluded categorically that all sleep deprivation was okay, the office decided to take a more careful look in its May 10, 2005 memo.
“Under the limitations provided by the CIA, sleep deprivation is not to exceed 180 hours” — that’s just four hours short of six full days — which we understand is approximately two-thirds of the maximum recorded time that humans have gone without sleep for purposes of medical study…” Although the subjects in those studies were allowed to move around, eat well and relax, whereas the detainees were shackled and “may be placed on a reduced-calorie diet,” the OLC lawyers aren’t too worried about that.
“[W]e understand that experts that have studied sleep deprivation have concluded that “[t]he most plausible reason for the uneventful physical findings with these human beings is that … sleep loss is not particularly harmful.”
Oh, and it’s not painful, either.
Nevertheless after 180 hours, the prisoner must be allowed to sleep at least 8 hours. Then, the CIA guidelines allowed interrogators to start the sleep deprivation process all over again.
Paolo Reyna
Reviewer
Paolo Reyna is a writer and storyteller with a wide range of interests. He graduated from New York University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Media Studies.
Paolo enjoys writing about celebrity culture, gaming, visual arts, and events. He has a keen eye for trends in popular culture and an enthusiasm for exploring new ideas. Paolo's writing aims to inform and entertain while providing fresh perspectives on the topics that interest him most.
In his free time, he loves to travel, watch films, read books, and socialize with friends.
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