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Dr. Michael Guadagnino holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from the New York Institute of Technology and earned his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from New York Chiropractic College. He served as Vice President of Public Relations for the New Jersey Libertarian Party from 2017 to 2022. Dr. Guadagnino is the author of the best-selling book Fitness Over 50, 60, 70 and Beyond, available on Amazon and other major platforms. He also shares health and wellness insights on Instagram at @Dr._Guadagnino. As a regular guest contributor, Dr. Guadagnino writes on health care topics through the lens of personal freedom and individual liberty. |
There can be no true liberty or personal freedom if you are not in control of what goes into your own body. Every individual is born with natural rights—chief among them is bodily autonomy. The Non-Aggression Principle (NAP), a foundational concept in libertarian philosophy, prohibits the use of force or coercion against others or their property. So how does this apply to medical freedom?
While I won't rehash the intense government pressure and mandates that occurred during the pandemic, it’s important to recognize that many of those policies still cast a shadow today. To be clear, this is not an anti-vaccine message. If you choose to receive a vaccine, that is entirely your decision. It’s your body. Likewise, if you choose not to get vaccinated, that too is your right. Medical decisions should remain between you, your doctor, your partner—or just you alone, if that’s what you prefer. It is, after all, your body.
During the pandemic, many people said they were doing their own “research.” While technically that word implies conducting experiments or laboratory work, what most were really doing was reviewing available data, asking questions, consulting knowledgeable sources, and thinking critically. That’s not only reasonable—it’s responsible. Everyone deserves to make health decisions based on the best available information. In 2021, such information was limited and often clouded by government pressure. Today, more data has emerged, and with it, a clearer view of the risks and consequences tied to those decisions. Still, the choice remains yours.
This same principle applies to childhood vaccines. Parents have the natural right to make informed choices about their child’s health. If a vaccine is truly effective, it should provide protection regardless of another child’s vaccination status. Libertarianism is built on the idea that you—and by extension, your family—have the freedom to make personal decisions without coercion.
Coercing medical choices undermines the very foundation of liberty and personal freedom. Whether it's your own body, your child’s, or your neighbor’s—everyone deserves the right to decide what’s best for themselves.