[Health status and degree of traumatisation among newly arrived asylum seeker--secondary publication].

An unknown number of asylum seekers arriving in Denmark have been exposed to torture. Amnesty International's Danish Medical Group examined 142 asylum seekers, of whom 45% had been exposed to torture. Physical and psychological symptoms were 2-3 times as frequent among torture survivors as among non-tortured asylum seekers.

Asylum seekers in Denmark--a study of health status and grade of traumatization of newly arrived asylum seekers.

Background: An unknown number of asylum seekers arriving in Denmark have been exposed to torture or have experienced other traumatising events in their country of origin. The health of traumatised asylum seekers, both physically and mentally, is affected upon arrival to Denmark, and time in asylum centres leads to further deterioration in health.

Methods: One hundred forty-two (N=142) newly arrived asylum seekers were examined at Center Sandholm by Amnesty International Danish Medical Group from the 1st of September until the 31st of December 2007.

Documentation of torture victims. Implementation of medico-legal protocols.

This article outlines the background for performing medical documentation in the context of a rehabilitation centre by reviewing literature and current practices. The article moreover delineates 6 ways of using medico-legal documentation in torture prevention: National legal proceedings; international legal proceedings; asylum cases; research, lobbying and advocacy activities. This article forms the basis for a Pilot Study performed at the Rehabilitation and Research Centre for Torture Victims in Copenhagen, which is described elsewhere.

Documentation of torture victims, assessment of the start procedure for medico-legal documentation.

A Pilot Study was performed at the Rehabilitation and Research Centre for Torture Victims (RCT) in Copenhagen in order to explore the possibilities for adding a medico-legal documentation component to the rehabilitation of torture victims already taking place. It describes the process and results on implementing medico-legal documentation in a rehabilitative setting. A modified version of the Guidelines in the Istanbul Protocol was developed on the basis of the review of literature and current practices described in "Documentation of torture victims, implementation of medico-legal protocols".