Managing constructive dissent re COVID policies
ASE made this Official Information request to Ministry of Health
Response to this request is long overdue. By law Ministry of Health should have responded by now (details and exceptions). The requester can complain to the Ombudsman.
From: ASE
Attn Ministry of Health,
As it regards COVID response advice, guidance, policies, and related matters; as is offered to Ministry of Health, sought by Ministry of Health, and acted on by Ministry of Health,
• How is constructive dissent being encouraged? How is groupthink and confirmation bias being discouraged?
• What management practices are in place to ensure that constructive dissent is being encouraged; and groupthink and confirmation bias are being discouraged? How are these matters being assessed and managed (eg via "key performance indicators") on an ongoing basis, and what has been the assessment of such metrics? If such metrics are not being actively assessed and managed, then why are they not being actively assessed and managed?
• How has diversity of thought been compromised by mandates which exclude or otherwise marginalise those who dissent or conscientiously object to requirements to submit to medical treatments (aka "vaccinations")? If this issue has not been assessed, then why has this issue not been assessed?
Thank you,
ASE
From: OIA Requests
Thank you for your Official Information Act request. This is
an automatic reply to let you know we received it.
In accordance with the Act, we'll let you know our decision within no more
than 20 working days. If you'd like to calculate the timeframe, you can
use the Ombudsman's online calculator
here: [1]http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic response, the Ministry is experiencing
significantly higher volumes of queries and requests for information. This
means we may take some time in responding to your request. The Ministry
regularly updates information about the COVID-19 situation and publishes
OIA responses considered to be of public interest:
[2]https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
Please also refer to the Unite Against Covid-19 website for copies of
papers, minutes, and key advice for the decisions the Government has made
relating to COVID-19.
Sometimes we may need to clarify aspects of a request. You can expect to
hear from us soon if that is the case here.
Ngā mihi,
OIA Services
Government Services
Office of the Director-General
Ministry of Health
E: [3][email address]
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References
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1. http://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&a...
2. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
3. mailto:[email address]
From: OIA Requests
Kia ora,
Thank you for your request for official information. The Ministry's
reference number for your request is: H202200656.
As required under the Official Information Act 1982, the Ministry will
endeavour to respond to your request no later than 20 working days after
the day your request was received. If you'd like to calculate the
timeframe, you can use the Ombudsman's online calculator
here: [1]http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic response, the Ministry is experiencing
significantly higher volumes of queries and requests for information. If
we are unable to respond to your request within this time frame, we will
notify you of an extension of that time frame.
If you have any queries related to this request, please do not hesitate to
get in touch.
Ngā mihi
OIA Services
Government Services
Office of the Director-General
Ministry of Health
E: [2][email address]
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From: OIA Requests
Kia ora,
Please find a letter attached regarding your official information act
request.
Ngā mihi
OIA Services Team
[1]Ministry of Health information releases
[2]Unite against COVID-19
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References
Visible links
1. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
2. https://covid19.govt.nz/
From: ASE
Attn Ministry of Health
As The Ministry of Health has a duty to provide evidence-based policy advice, I believe it is reasonable to expect that The Ministry of Health actively maintains policies to ensure that ideology, or worse, does not displace evidence in the formation of public health policy.
As such, I expect that The Ministry of Health can provide information about how such inevitable conflicts are managed.
As such, this is absolutely not an attempt to engage in debate or ask for opinions, but purely an honest request for information.
Since "the information sought is not held by the Ministry", I have to conclude that The Ministry of Health does not have any policies in place to prevent ideology, or worse, from displacing evidence in the formation of public health policy. This is shocking.
Unfortunately, the obtuse and defensive nature of your response to this request for information points towards the darkest fears raised by this request; that The Ministry of Health has no internal policies in place to ensure that its public health policies and public health advice are evidence-based.
Further, since this request is very simply asking for information, which I reasonably believe should be held by The Ministry of Health, and this request is not an attempt to engage in debate, ask for opinions, or otherwise make a vexatious request, I have no choice but to follow up with a formal complaint to The Office of the Ombudsman.
Or, please correct me if my understanding is wrong: Does The Ministry of Health not have any obligation to rely on evidence, to produce evidence-based policies and evidence-based policy advice? Is it acceptable for The Ministry of Health to rely on something other than evidence, to produce something other than evidence-based policies and advice?
Thank you,
ASE
From: OIA Requests
Kia ora ASE,
Thank you for your email. The Ministry is satisfied with the response and
has nothing further to add. As you are aware, you have the right under
section 23 of the Act to seek a review by the Ombudsman of any decisions
made in responding to your request. The contact details for the Ombudsman
are available at [1]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz
Ngā mihi
OIA Services Team
[2]Ministry of Health information releases
[3]Unite against COVID-19
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: ASE <[FOI #18339 email]>
Sent: Tuesday, 22 February 2022 13:58
To: OIA Requests <[email address]>
Subject: Re: Your official information act request (ref_H202200656)
Attn Ministry of Health
As The Ministry of Health has a duty to provide evidence-based policy
advice, I believe it is reasonable to expect that The Ministry of Health
actively maintains policies to ensure that ideology, or worse, does not
displace evidence in the formation of public health policy.
As such, I expect that The Ministry of Health can provide information
about how such inevitable conflicts are managed.
As such, this is absolutely not an attempt to engage in debate or ask for
opinions, but purely an honest request for information.
Since "the information sought is not held by the Ministry", I have to
conclude that The Ministry of Health does not have any policies in place
to prevent ideology, or worse, from displacing evidence in the formation
of public health policy. This is shocking.
Unfortunately, the obtuse and defensive nature of your response to this
request for information points towards the darkest fears raised by this
request; that The Ministry of Health has no internal policies in place to
ensure that its public health policies and public health advice are
evidence-based.
Further, since this request is very simply asking for information, which I
reasonably believe should be held by The Ministry of Health, and this
request is not an attempt to engage in debate, ask for opinions, or
otherwise make a vexatious request, I have no choice but to follow up with
a formal complaint to The Office of the Ombudsman.
Or, please correct me if my understanding is wrong: Does The Ministry of
Health not have any obligation to rely on evidence, to produce
evidence-based policies and evidence-based policy advice? Is it acceptable
for The Ministry of Health to rely on something other than evidence, to
produce something other than evidence-based policies and advice?
Thank you,
ASE
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ASE left an annotation ()
See also: The Madness of Groupthink
https://brownstone.org/articles/the-madn...
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Copies to:
Chris Hipkins - https://fyi.org.nz/request/18341-managin...
Jacinda Ardern - https://fyi.org.nz/request/18340-managin...
Ministry of Health - https://fyi.org.nz/request/18339-managin...
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