Dr. Michael Moore and the Fight for Medical Freedom
A Utah plastic surgeon’s alleged COVID-19 vaccine deception ignites a national firestorm—until charges are dropped.
Who Is Dr. Moore?
Dr. Michael Kirk Moore Jr. is a board‑certified plastic surgeon based in Midvale, Utah, and founder of the Plastic Surgery Institute of Utah. Before controversy struck, he was known for innovative procedures like “Practically Pain Free Rapid Recovery” breast augmentation and held active medical licenses in Utah and Idaho.
The Allegations: A ‘Scheme’ in the Making
Between May 2021 and September 2022, federal prosecutors say Dr. Moore, alongside neighbor Kristin Jackson Andersen, office manager Kari Burgoyne, and receptionist Sandra Flores, executed a scheme to defraud the U.S. government:
Destroying over $28,000 worth of government-provided COVID-19 vaccines—allegedly flushing unused doses down the drain
Issuing at least 1,937 fake CDC vaccination cards, charging $50 per card or soliciting donations to an anti‑mandate medical group
Administering saline injections to children, deceiving parents into believing their children were vaccinated
The Indictment: Facing 35 Years
In January 2023, a federal grand jury indicted the group on charges including conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to convert or dispose of government property, and aiding and abetting. Dr. Moore also faced destruction-of-evidence charges for allegedly instructing staff to destroy vaccines post-indictment. Conviction could have meant up to 35 years in prison.
Trial Sparks Political Uproar
The trial began in early July 2025 in Salt Lake City. A rally of supporters—including Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz and fellow GOP legislators—gathered outside the courthouse holding signs like “Dr. Moore is a hero, not a criminal.”
Marjorie Taylor Greene: “This man is a hero, not a criminal.”
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: “Dr. Moore deserves a medal for his courage and his commitment to healing!”
Dr. Moore’s defense centered on claims that CDC vaccine mandates infringed on constitutional patient autonomy, asserting, “They honored the personal medical choices of their patients. They never received a dollar in return. And no unexpired vaccines were ever destroyed.”
Chiropractors Faced Their Own Reckoning
Dr. Moore’s story reverberates strongly within the chiropractic profession, where many doctors were similarly targeted during the COVID-19 pandemic—not by the federal government, but by their own regulatory boards. Across numerous states, chiropractors were hauled before licensing boards—often by fellow chiropractors in positions of regulatory power—for allegedly violating emergency mandates. Infractions included failure to enforce masking or distancing, disputing the scientific basis of sanitation protocols, or speaking publicly about the potential role of chiropractic adjustments in supporting immune function.
Many of these mandates, upon review, were later found to be unlawful, unconstitutional, or unsupported by scientific evidence. Yet the chiropractors who enforced them through complaints, sanctions, or threats of licensure loss have never been held to account. The professional damage, financial hardship, and reputational harm suffered by principled chiropractors remains unresolved.
“Chiropractors who stood by their convictions—questioning unscientific mandates and defending their patients' rights—were treated like criminals, while the enforcers of these policies faced no scrutiny.”
Adding further irony, multiple chiropractors—some of whom participated in regulatory enforcement—were themselves later found to have falsified vaccine cards, either for personal use or to help patients navigate mandate-based restrictions. Despite this, few if any have faced disciplinary action, reinforcing the perception of double standards and selective justice in chiropractic regulation.
Moore’s exoneration highlights a broader reckoning yet to come: not just about public health policy, but about the unchecked authority wielded during crisis—often by insiders acting without oversight.
The Charges are Dropped
On July 12, 2025, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi formally dismissed all charges “in the interests of justice.” She emphasized that Moore “gave his patients a choice when the federal government refused to do so” and did not warrant years behind bars. Two co-defendants also had charges dropped; others had previously entered plea or diversion agreements.
A Controversy with National Echoes
At its heart, this case reflects nationwide battles over vaccine mandates, personal liberty, and public trust. Supporters viewed Moore as championing individual choice and resisting government overreach. Critics insisted his actions undermined public health and federal programs, pointing to the deception of parents and misuse of government property.
Bondi’s decision aligns with broader Trump-era skepticism of pandemic-era policies, coinciding with moves like the Pentagon readmitting unvaccinated service members and canceling major vaccine contracts.
In Summary
Dr. Moore’s legal saga began with serious federal charges and ended with a politically charged dismissal. His case—and the chiropractic profession’s own pandemic-era drama—raises unsettling questions about who gets punished, who gets protected, and who gets to decide. As mandates fall and the truth of government overreach becomes clearer, history may judge many of yesterday’s “heroes” and “villains” very differently.
