Episode 5 - Dr Natalie Thurtle - Deployments to Gaza & Seeking Medical Justice

[Please note this episode was recorded before Israel violated the January 2025 ceasefire]In this episode of the Seeking Justice Podcast, Dr. Natalie Thurtle shares her journey as an emergency physician and humanitarian worker with Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders including deploying to Gaza both before and after 7 October 2023. Dr Nat discusses her experiences in conflict zones, the complexities of providing medical care in challenging environments, and the importance of understanding privilege and the white savior complex. Dr. Nat reflects on her deployments in Palestine, the impact of trauma on communities, and the resilience of individuals in the face of adversity. The conversation also touches on the evolving role of international medical staff and the challenges of navigating humanitarian work in politically charged contexts.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Dr. Natalie Thurtle03:31 Journey into Humanitarian Medicine07:19 Understanding Privilege and Medicine11:39 The Intersection of Arts and Medicine13:27 Evolving Perspectives on Humanitarian Work14:26 Training and Preparation for Deployment16:10 Experiences in Sri Lanka17:16 Negotiating Humanitarian Work and Employment19:44 The Structure of MSF21:50 The White Savior Complex24:41 Navigating Local and International Staff Dynamics26:47 Cognitive Challenges in Conflict Zones30:39 Deployment in Gaza: 2020-202132:20 Challenges of Treating Conflict-Related Injuries33:54 The Impact of Conflict on Medical Infrastructure36:24 Adapting Humanitarian Models in Conflict Zones39:11 The Challenge of Instrumentalization in Humanitarian Work42:06 Navigating Transient Staff Dynamics43:23 Deployment to Gaza Post-October 7th 202350:12 Censorship of Palestinian Voices - The Role of Media in Humanitarian Crises52:11 Understanding Fear and Vulnerability in Conflict54:00 The Destruction of International Humanitarian Law in Gaza55:49 Resilience and Creativity Amidst Trauma57:05 The Impact of War on Human Behaviour01:02:01 Mental Health Challenges in the Prolonged Genocide in Gaza01:03:37 The Brain Drain on Healthcare in Palestine01:06:26 Future Aspirations and Ongoing WorkPlease “Like”, “Subscribe”, “Share” and support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/SeekingJusticePodcast or BuyMeACoffee: buymeacoffee.com/seekingjusticepodcast   Follow The Seeking Justice Podcast™ on social media: Substack: https://substack.com/@seekingjusticepod BlueSky: @seekingjusticepod.bsky.social Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573043997297 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theseekingjusticepodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@justice.seekers?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc Twitter/X: https://x.com/SeekJusticePod Reddit: SeekingJusticePod Rumble: TheSeekingJusticePodcast