What happens when public health policy collides with the foundational principles of medical ethics? In this thought-provoking episode of The React19 Podcast, Ann sits down with psychiatrist, medical ethicist, and author Aaron Kheriaty to explore the ethical questions raised by the COVID-19 era and why those questions remain critically important today. Dr. Kheriaty shares his journey from directing medical ethics at UC Irvine School of Medicine to challenging COVID vaccine mandates in federal court and becoming a plaintiff in the landmark free speech case Missouri v. Biden. Together, they examine informed consent, bodily autonomy, censorship, public health policy, and the growing tension between individual rights and utilitarian approaches to healthcare. The conversation goes beyond mandates and lawsuits to address deeper philosophical questions: What does it mean to be human? What is the proper role of medicine? Can science answer every question, or has society embraced scientism in place of genuine scientific inquiry? And what are the consequences when health becomes society's highest value? Drawing from his books The New Abnormal and Making the Cut, Dr. Kheriaty offers a compelling framework for understanding the ethical, cultural, and spiritual challenges exposed during the pandemic—and why those lessons matter for the future. Resources The New Abnormal: The Rise of the Biomedical Security State https://www.amazon.com/New-Abnormal-Biomedical-Security-State/dp/B0B5M41RTW Making the Cut: How to Heal Modern Medicine https://www.amazon.com/Making-Cut-Heal-Modern-Medicine/dp/B0G3XYK24W/ Follow Aaron at: https://x.com/AaronKheriatyMD https://aaronkheriaty.substack.com/ https://www.aaronkheriaty.com/ About Dr. Aaron Kheriaty Dr. Aaron Kheriaty is a psychiatrist, medical ethicist, and author. He previously served as Professor of Psychiatry and Director of Medical Ethics at UC Irvine School of Medicine, where he received the Excellence in Teaching Award three consecutive years. He currently serves as Director of Bioethics and American Democracy Programs at the Ethics and Public Policy Center and advises several organizations focused on ethics, public policy, and civil liberties. He is the author of five books, including The New Abnormal and Making the Cut. In This Episode 03:25 – Dr. Kheriaty's background in philosophy, medicine, and bioethics 05:50 – His role in developing COVID policies within the University of California system 07:10 – Why he challenged COVID vaccine mandates and the ethical foundation of informed consent 08:50 – The Nuremberg Code and its relevance to modern medical ethics 11:25 – His lawsuit against UC Irvine and the consequences of challenging the mandate 14:05 – Missouri v. Biden: government censorship, social media, and free speech 25:00 – Utilitarianism versus individual rights in public health policy 36:00 – Science vs. scientism: what happens when science becomes ideology 39:00 – Why censorship undermines genuine scientific inquiry 44:00 – Lockdowns, loneliness, mental health, addiction, and deaths of despair 52:00 – Human flourishing, meaning, and the danger of reducing people to biology alone 55:00 – Death, medicine, and the limits of science 58:00 – Transhumanism and the promise of overcoming death through technology 1:02:00 – Vaccine mandates, informed consent, and individual liberty 1:03:20 – Liability protections, pharmaceutical accountability, and public trust 1:08:45 – Why children should never be used as instruments to achieve public health goals 1:11:30 – Jacobson v. Massachusetts, Buck v. Bell, and the legal history of bodily autonomy 1:16:20 – The ongoing struggles of the vaccine injured and the work of React19 1:20:00 – Hope for the future: changing public awareness, speaking truth, and restoring human dignity If you would like to donate to help those who have suffered so greatly:https://react19.org/donate/ Every dollar goes directly to the injured! If you are injured and need help, please check out all the resources at www.react19.org To contact React19 directly: https://react19.org/about/contact-us Also check out the documentary “Follow the Silenced” https://followthesilenced.com/ The film reveals the heartbreaking journey of Americans who trusted the science, only to have their lives forever changed by being chosen for the first COVID vaccine trials. These brave souls refused to be silenced. For more stories from the vaccine injured, and important webinars, check out the React19 Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWxQz_3HbNfvanJIiDcq3Vg or Rumble Channel: https://rumble.com/user/react19org/videos REACT19 does NOT diagnose medical conditions, offer treatment advice, treat illnesses, or prescribe medicine or drugs. Any information contained in this podcast and any related links or attachments is not a substitute for adequate medical care, diagnosis, and/or treatment from a medical doctor. It is strongly recommended that prior to acting upon any information gleaned via React 19 or its representatives, you should first consult a physician. If you are in crisis and need immediate mental health support: please call 988, text 741741, or go to your nearest emergency room. React 19 no diagnostica afecciones médicas, aconseja tratamiento, trata enfermedades, o prescribe medicina o drogas. Cualquier información contenida en este correo y cualquier otro enlace relacionado o anexos no es substituto del diagnóstico, cuidado médico adecuado y/o tratamiento por un doctor. Fuertemente, se recomienda que antes de actuar en base a cualquier información recogida vía REACT 19 y sus representantes, consulte primero con un médico. Si está en crisis y necesita apoyo de salud mental inmediato: llame al 988, envíe un mensaje de texto al 741741 o vaya a la sala de emergencias más cercana.
