Master Corporal (ret'd) John Dowe is a Canadian Armed Forces veteran.
In 1993, as a member of the Airborne Regiment, he deployed to Somalia and witnessed what would eventually become known as the “Somalia Affair”. An incident so tragic, that it led to a national public inquiry, the resignation of the Minister of Defense and the disbanding of this elite special forces unit.
After transitioning to civilian life, John began investigating the effects of mefloquine, an anti-malarial pill he calls a "suicide drug", and co-founded the International Mefloquine Veterans Alliance to inform veterans, health, and military leaders, about the short- and long-term effects of this anti-malarial drug.
He continues to advocate for a Royal Commission to investigate the drug's prescription and use by the Canadian military and is the lead client in a mass tort lawsuit seeking compensation for veterans who were prescribed mefloquine on missions in Somalia, Rwanda, Haiti, Afghanistan and elsewhere.
On this episode John talks about the mission in Somalia, why he believes mefloquine played a significant role in the beating death of Somali teen Shidane Arone, and how 1 in 5 veteran PTSD cases are misdiagnosed.
Thank you for listening!
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