LETTER TO/FROM (DELETED RE "AMYTAL INTERVIEW" TECHNIQUE

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 00173987
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: January 21, 2025
• Document Release Date: January 15, 1983
• Publication Date: September 23, 1966

j
September 23, 1966
1
A
Dear Dr.
Heartiest Greetings from
I would like to take this oppoflunity to thank you for your interest in our proposed
project. I am sorry that I was not able to return to the States this summer and discuss
It with you personally. \I think, has kept me well informed of developments.
He suggested in his lase-rater to me that I write to you clarifying some of the details
reparding the use of "amytal interview" \Hospital Psychiatric Prison
Service.
"Anytal interview" or the interview of patients while under the influence of intra-
venous sodium amytal has been considered a routine procedure on the prison service.
It has been performed at the discretion of the ward physician in any case he felt it
was indicated, in the sane way that the ward physician would decide upon the administrat!
of sedatives, tranquilizers and other medication. A shortage of time and personnel
generally caused us to limit its use to cases involving serious crimes or problems of
particular psychiatric interest. Although when I first began on the ward a stenographer
was generally present during the interview we later used a tape recorder routinely. ,
Since the interview serves medical rather than legal purposes, there has never been any
real basis for objection on the part of either the D.A. or the defense counsel. The
nateriall of course, like all data obtained from the patient while at is not
admissable as evidence into the trial. Statements obtained from the patient curing
the amytal interview are also not made a part of the regular hospital chart as an
additional precaution.
The procedure of "amytal interview" has long been accepted in the
Court System although I can not tell you how long. ;at the prison seice
at Nospital which also serves the lin a similar capacity
85 a)uhlished an article on the resulfra its use in the early nineteen -
fifties. I might add that in my use of the technique over a period of several years
there has not been any morbidity of even significant complications.
The only changes in the routine proposed in our project involve more careful docu-
mentation by the use of more adequate secretarial assistance and more careful cali-
bration and monitoring of the administration of the drug. Such monitoring as with the
use of eye movements is already in use either manually or in select cases with
nystagmography or ENG. The lack of the proper apparatus on the ward prevented the
more routine use of the latter, which we hope will be corrected by conditions of the
proposed study,
If there are any other problems or questions don't hesitate to write or if urgent
telephone. I am usually at home in the evening and telephone connections to the
States have so far been excellent.
Sincerely,
re? 7