48th regulator: You misunderstand me, I think.
Nobody (least of all me...) is questioning that Canadian soldiers can become injured on operations, or can develop long-term health problems. For example, I am close to being an H3 because of years of exposure to loud noises, aggravated by the fact that when I joined the Reserve we almost never wore hearing protection.
What I am questioning is "medical conspiracy theories" which stir up all sorts of fear and alarm, but seem to run along on the power of isolated cases or rumour fed by shoddy journalism. If there is some conclusive proof that Mefloquine causes significant psychological effects, or long term downstream effects, then let's have it. Yet, instead, as Mark C and I have both tried to point out, there does not seem to be evidence vailable. Has there been single court case in this country, or any other, in which Mefloquine has been the subject of a compensation award?
As for "medical professionals" defending the medication: well...who else would we turn to for this evidence? We expect people to turn to us as military professionals, on military issues, right?
Finally, I disagree completely that our current culture is "suck it up and shut up" Ten years ago--maybe.Now--no .We have had a long, hard road since then and IMHO have changed 100% in how we deal with the injured and disabled. . I am familiar with several compensation cases in our Bde for Res soldiers who have developed disabilities while on active duty and the system is definitely there to help. In fact, if anything, we may be in danger of drifting too far the other way. Cheers.