Leaky legislation

When well-meant policy changes just end up making matters worse.

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15th September, 2012

Austrian philosopher Ivan Illich coined the expression “iatrogenic medicine” to describe illness generated by the actions of physicians. An example is when the doctors prescribe some medicine, with resultant side effects, which are treated by further medication. The cycle repeats until a specialist reviews the patient’s entire record and stops all the medication – and the patient is cured (perhaps). The specialist was thinking holistically and fundamentally, instead of just reacting to the latest upset. Iatrogenic policy failure is even more common, probably because genuine policy specialists ...

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