Is being healthy a personal virtue, or a civic duty? And how should you be treated if you're not healthy?
In this episode of Long Covid, MD, Dr. Zeest Khan is joined by Dr. Alyssa Burgart, pediatric anesthesiologist and bioethicist, for a timely conversation on healthism—the idea that health is a moral responsibility—and how it's shaping everything from doctor-patient relationships to public health policy.
Together, they explore:
- What healthism is and why it matters now more than ever
- How figures like RFK Jr. and Dr. Mehmet Oz are using morality and patriotism to frame health in political terms
- What these narratives mean for people with Long COVID and other chronic illnesses
- How blame and bias show up in the clinic—and how both patients and clinicians can push back
- Why trauma-informed care is critical for healing, not just treatment
This episode offers practical insight and ethical clarity for anyone navigating illness in a society that often treats sickness as a personal failure.
Read more of Dr Burgart's work on Substack
Subscribe for more at LongCovidMD.substack.com, and follow Dr Khan on X @doctor_zeest
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist
It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com