Health, Wellness & Society: WITHIN with Dr. Azadeh Khatibi, MD, MS, MPH

Free Speech in Medicine & Science Post-COVID (Part 1): The AB 2098 Lawsuit Victory w/Dr. Aaron Kheriaty and Jenin Younes | Ep. 7

July 11, 2026·35 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

In this powerful episode recorded spring 2024, Dr. Azadeh Khatibi sits down with her lead counsel Jenin Younes and co-plaintiff Dr. Aaron Kheriaty to break down their landmark lawsuit against California’s AB 2098 COVID "misinformation" law. They reveal how the state tried to punish doctors for deviating from “contemporary scientific consensus,” why so many doctors stayed quiet, why the law was unconstitutionally vague, and how a preliminary injunction forced the legislature to repeal it.  Key topics include: Why scientific consensus is NOT the legal or medical standard of care The chilling effect on doctors’ free speech and patient care Historical examples of dissent that advanced medicine (Semmelweis, H. pylori) The mootness argument and ongoing fight for attorney’s fees Why physicians must stand up against government overreach This is Part 1 of a deep conversation on defending constitutional rights in medicine. If you believe doctors should be able to speak freely to their patients without fear of losing their license, hit LIKE and subscribe for more conversations on freedom in medicine. Comment below: Have you or a doctor you know been affected by speech restrictions in healthcare?   Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction & Overview 01:41 – What AB 2098 Actually Did 07:09 – Preliminary Injunction & Mootness Ruling 09:32 – Seeking Attorney’s Fees (Supreme Court Case Update) 11:35 – Scientific Consensus vs. Free Speech in Medicine 20:02 – Advocating for Yourself as a Doctor 21:48 – Standing Up & Pushing Back Against Government Control 24:39 – Understanding the Real Standard of Care 28:38 – Challenging Consensus & Historical Lessons 31:35 – The Erosion of Free Speech for Doctors   Note: This conversation was filmed in 2024 but it’s incredibly relevant and contains important about medicine, history and ethics.   AB 2098 lawsuit, doctors free speech, First Amendment rights, First Amendment medicine, scientific consensus, California medical board, government overreach, Dr Aaron Kheriaty, Jenin Younes, NCLA, doctors autonomy, unconstitutional vagueness, preliminary injunction, mootness, medical censorship, COVID law California, defending constitutional rights, instincts, consensus, medicine, historical examples, free speech, government control, individual rights, civil liberties, crisis, totalitarianism, dissent, fear, solidarity, eugenics, California, courts, lawsuits.

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