The Shock Doctrine of Health

For all you conspiracy theorists and YouTube video fanatics out there “The Shock Doctrine” is a title that probably rings a bell.  At first a book by author Naomi Klein and later made into a YouTube video sensation directed by Michael Winterbottom, “The Shock Doctrine” is something of a mix between conspiracy, fact, and thoughtful insight into the evolution of major crises throughout the 20^th and now 21^st centuries.  Both the book and documentary attempt to explain the cause behind certain crises and attribute their occurrences to the diabolical beliefs of economist Milton Friedman and his libertarian free market policies (this is where for some it crosses over into the conspiracy world).  However, they go on to highlight crucial moments in these crises, be them economic, political, or natural, when leaders take advantage of the chaos to pass certain laws or policies that normally would be unpopular or unimaginable to implement.  The idea is that when the state of the country or population is in such a state of shock it becomes much easier for politicians or even those outside government, enter Milton Friedman, to influence major changes in policy and benefit from these times of crisis. 

Now I am nothing of a conspiracy theorist (I swear), but I recently watched the documentary on YouTube and have to admit that it was truly thought provoking.  Perhaps not necessarily in the way that it intended, but as someone beginning their career in public health it definitely has made me wonder; how does the health sector respond to these states of emergency?  How is societal well-being affected by not only the crisis itself but by our reaction and the changes that take place directly afterwards?  Do our politicians exploit these difficult times to put forth their own political health agendas?  What is the motivation behind specific governments or groups to intervene in moments of crisis and what effect do they have on the health outcomes of the affected communities?  What interventions, both positive AND negative, can we attribute to these crises?  And, what are the short, mid, and long terms effects of these interventions on health services and the health system in general? 

With these questions in mind the main purpose of this blog is to take a closer look at how societies have been able to effectively or ineffectively manage through these difficult times and the health outcomes that follow as a direct result of this management.  From politicians to public health professionals, we intend to analyze the role various actors play in shaping health policies, changes, and attitudes with regard to these crises.  Each post is meant to present capsules of information that not only provide an understanding of the links between crises and health but also prompt our readers to start questioning strategies in the health management of these events.  It’s time to come out of shock, recognize what is happening, and participate in managing these situations.