title: [Persecutory health].
abstract: A critical approach from the standpoint of social philosophy is taken aiming at analyzing aspects of current production of knowledge and technologies in health promotion. Its capacity of generating perplexities, dilemmas and dissatisfactions is also evaluated, despite its strength and effectiveness in many levels. The analysis is based on Ivan Illich's "social iatrogenesis," Peter Skrabanek's "coercive healthism," and Giorgio Agamben's theoretical approach of "homo sacer"--a man whose life is worthless. The limits and dilemmas of the idea of personal responsibility are discussed as a persuasion strategy in health promotion discourses and practices. All these proposals produce "persecutory health" as a side effect.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Epidemiologia e Métodos Quantitativos em Saúde, Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. luis.castiel@ensp.fiocruz.br
authors.forename: Luis David
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Castiel
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alvarez-Dardet
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D006293:Health Promotion; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D011322:Primary Prevention; D012308:Risk Management; D012941:Social Responsibility