Florida’s Medical Freedom Movement Gathers Support Amid Controversy

A gathering in Sarasota County, Florida, attracted several hundred supporters on a humid October night to honor state Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo and a controversial Canadian radiologist known for using unapproved treatments for cancer. The event, titled “The 3 Big C’s: Courage, Censorship & Cancer,” was organized by the We the People Health and Wellness Center, a clinic funded by an individual who participated in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. This clinic promotes a mix of alternative therapies, including red light therapy and experimental treatments for autism.

The “medical freedom” movement in this region has emerged as a response to COVID-19 lockdowns, uniting wellness advocates, vaccine skeptics, and certain political factions. The event featured Brianna Ladapo, Joseph Ladapo’s wife, who identifies as a “spiritual healer” and claims to communicate with angels. She led a panel discussion, while the keynote address was delivered by William Makis, a former physician who lost his medical license in 2019 and has since advocated for the use of unapproved antiparasitic drugs like ivermectin for cancer treatment.

Despite clinical trials indicating that ivermectin is ineffective against COVID-19, many skeptics view the mainstream medical community’s rejection of it as evidence of a conspiracy orchestrated by pharmaceutical companies. Makis, who describes some of his patients’ conditions as “turbo cancers,” attributes alleged health complications to impurities in mRNA vaccines, positing that these vaccines have caused widespread fatalities.

Brianna Ladapo has publicly shared her belief that the COVID-19 pandemic was orchestrated by “sinister forces” to manipulate the public into surrendering their freedoms. She has expressed concerns about “dark forces” in the environment, citing examples such as “chemtrails,” which conspiracy theorists claim contain harmful substances. Despite the lack of scientific support for these claims, she insists that such phenomena have adversely affected her family’s health.

Since his appointment in 2021, Joseph Ladapo has challenged established public health norms in Florida. He aims to ban mRNA vaccines in the state and announced plans on September 3, 2023, to eliminate childhood vaccination mandates. Shortly after the Venice event, he expressed his intention to support Makis’ unproven cancer treatments through a new $60 million cancer research initiative established by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and his wife, Casey.

The We the People clinic, founded by local businessman Vic Mellor, does not provide vaccines and instead offers treatments purportedly for vaccine-related injuries. Mellor, associated with retired Army Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, has organized various events for anti-vaccine activists and medical freedom proponents at his facility, which features amenities like a zip line and a gun range. His involvement in the January 6 Capitol riot has drawn scrutiny, yet he continues to foster a community aligned with right-wing ideals.

The recent activities of the medical freedom movement have also influenced local governance. In the previous year, three candidates supportive of these views gained seats on the board overseeing Sarasota’s public hospital, following protests against the hospital’s refusal to administer ivermectin to COVID-19 patients.

In nearby Pinecraft, a neighborhood home to a significant Mennonite population, vaccine hesitancy is also prevalent. Pastor Timothy Miller noted that many in his community are reluctant to vaccinate their children, often citing concerns regarding autism and other health risks linked to vaccines. His cousin, Kristi Miller, a mother of one, echoed these views, expressing that she does not fear vaccine-preventable diseases, asserting, “I don’t live in fear. I have a God who’s bigger than everything.”

Amid these discussions, the medical community continues to advocate for vaccinations as a critical public health measure. The claims that vaccines cause autism have been thoroughly discredited, and mercury was removed from childhood vaccines more than two decades ago. Despite this, many individuals in the movement remain skeptical of mainstream medical advice.

The activities surrounding the We the People Health and Wellness Center and the broader medical freedom movement illustrate a significant shift in public health discourse in parts of Florida, where alternative medicine and conspiracy theories have gained traction among specific groups. As debates continue, the implications for public health policy and community health remain to be seen.