Podcast: Medical freedom? The case against unregulated peptides

By Cameron English and ChuckDinerstein — Jul 15, 2026

Many consumers are buying unregulated peptides—"for research purposes only"—from suspicious websites with the intention of using the drugs on themselves. Some libertarians claim that the inalienable right to medical freedom legitimizes this transaction. Dr. Dinerstein, who spent decades obtaining informed consent from patients, isn't as confident.

Image: ACSH

Join Dr. Chuck Dinerstein and Cam English on the Science Dispatch podcast as they discuss:

Peptides, Patient Autonomy, and the Limits of Medical Freedom

John Stossel’s case for medical freedom is emotionally and philosophically powerful: if we own our bodies, why should the government decide what risks we may take with them? But peptides expose the weak joint in that argument. The issue is not simply whether a competent adult may consent to risk; it is whether consent can sanitize a market built on uncertain ingredients, evasive labeling, distorted claims, and sellers who profit while disclaiming responsibility.

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Cameron English

Executive Vice President

Cameron English is a writer, editor and co-host of the Science Facts and Fallacies Podcast. Before joining ACSH, he was managing editor at the Genetic Literacy Project.