Child Health Defense (CHD) Asks Supreme Court to Pause Disciplinary Actions Against Doctors Who Criticized COVID Policies

Lawyers for Children’s Health Defense (CHD) today filed a second request with the U.S. Supreme Court asking it to pause disciplinary proceedings against several Washington state doctors accused of spreading false information about COVID-19, including the virus and the safety and efficacy of the vaccines.

The emergency request stems from a lawsuit filed in March alleging the Washington Medical Commission violated the doctors’ First Amendment right to criticize the “mainstream COVID narrative” and the public’s First Amendment right to hear the opposing viewpoints.

On Wednesday, Associate Justice Elena Kagan rejected the plaintiffs’ original request. Attorneys submitted today’s request to Associate Justice Clarence Thomas.

Rick Jaffe one of the attorneys representing the plaintiffs, said that although the practice is “disfavored,” Supreme Court rules allow petitioners to resubmit applications for injunctions.

“We think the issue is important enough and has national consequences such that we should leave no stone unturned,” Jaffe said. “Justice Thomas has a long history of protecting First Amendment rights.”

In addition to CHD, plaintiffs in the case include Drs. Richard Eggleston, Tom Siler and Daniel Moynihan; and former NBA star John Stockton. Stockton alleged that suppressing the doctors’ public speech violated his First Amendment right to listen to such speech, is also a plaintiff. 

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Foe of Drug Makers and Regulators, Is Poised to Wield New Power

The New York Times reported:

When 12,000 public health professionals gathered in Minneapolis last week for the annual meeting of the American Public Health Association, Dr. Jerome Adams, who served as surgeon general in the first administration of President-elect Donald J. Trump, issued a pointed warning about Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

“If R.F.K. has a significant influence on the next administration, that could further erode people’s willingness to get up to date with recommended vaccines,” Dr. Adams said. “I am worried about the impact that could have on our nation’s health, on our nation’s economy, on our global security.”

Now, Mr. Kennedy, a vocal skeptic of vaccines, is in a position to have significant influence, and over a broad range of policy. Mr. Trump’s sweeping electoral victory, with Mr. Kennedy at his side, is — in the eyes of their supporters — not only a mandate but also a repudiation of the public health establishment that has long kept Mr. Kennedy at bay.

Mr. Kennedy’s worldview is embodied in two of his most frequent refrains: “There is nothing more profitable for much of the health care system than a sick child” and “Public health agencies have become sock puppets for the industries they are supposed to regulate.”

New York Supreme Court Struck Down Vaccine Mandate

By Brenda Baletti, Ph D.

A January ruling by the New York State Supreme Court that struck down the state’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for healthcare workers will stand, after the Supreme Court Appellate Division, Fourth Department, late last week dismissed an appeal by the state.

“The appeal is dismissed, the mandate is over and Judge [Gerard J.] Neri’s decision stands,” said Sujata Gibson, attorney for the plaintiffs. “This was an important victory. While it does not make healthcare workers whole, it does protect us from future overreach by the executive branch.”

The state Supreme Court on Jan. 13 declared New York’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for healthcare workers “null, void, and of no effect,” and ruled that the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) lacked the authority to impose the mandate.