Has medicine lost its soul? On this episode of The Drew Mariani Show, Drew sits down with Dr. Aaron Kheriaty – psychiatrist, medical ethicist, and author of the new book Making the Cut: How to Heal Modern Medicine – to explore what’s gone wrong in our healthcare system and how we can fix it. 

Dr. Kheriaty argues that medicine itself has become sick. Once a true vocation centered on healing the human person, he believes that it has shifted into an industry focused on management, profit, and compliance. Bureaucrats now outnumber doctors and nurses who actually see patients. Instead of the doctor who knew your name and came to your home, we have what he calls “turnstile medicine” – a system designed to move people through as quickly as possible.

He calls this trend managerialism: a technocratic belief that healthcare can be controlled from the top down by administrators, algorithms, and endless “guidelines.” In the 1990s, there were about 75 official medical guidelines. By 2014, there were over 7,500 – many tied directly to reimbursement. That means a doctor who wants to use his own judgment to treat a unique patient risks not getting paid at all.

Dr. Kheriaty reminds listeners that while medicine still excels at trauma and acute emergencies – the surgeon patching you up after an accident, the ER doctor saving your life – it fails more often when it comes to chronic illness. Real healing requires cooperation between doctor and patient. “The body is not a machine,” he says. “It’s the primary agent of its own healing.” Antibiotics, surgeries, and medications can help, but the body and soul must be part of the cure.

Drew and Dr. Kheriaty discuss how to reclaim the heart of medicine: restoring human dignity, physician freedom, and patient responsibility. The goal is to rediscover what it means to truly heal.

The opinions expressed by the guest are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Relevant Radio.

The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.

Has medicine lost its soul? On <a href="https://relevantradio.com/2025/10/medicine-is-broken-how-can-we-fix-it/">this episode</a> of The Drew Mariani Show, Drew sits down with Dr. Aaron Kheriaty &ndash; psychiatrist, medical ethicist, and author of the new book Making the Cut: How to Heal Modern Medicine &ndash; to explore what&rsquo;s gone wrong in our healthcare system and how we can fix it.&nbsp;
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Dr. Kheriaty argues that medicine itself has become sick. Once a true vocation centered on healing the human person, he believes that it has shifted into an industry focused on management, profit, and compliance. Bureaucrats now outnumber doctors and nurses who actually see patients. Instead of the doctor who knew your name and came to your home, we have what he calls&nbsp;&ldquo;turnstile medicine&rdquo; &ndash;&nbsp;a system designed to move people through as quickly as possible.
He calls this trend managerialism: a technocratic belief that healthcare can be controlled from the top down by administrators, algorithms, and endless &ldquo;guidelines.&rdquo; In the 1990s, there were about 75 official medical guidelines. By 2014, there were over 7,500 &ndash; many tied directly to reimbursement. That means a doctor who wants to use his own judgment to treat a unique patient risks not getting paid at all.
Dr. Kheriaty reminds listeners that while medicine still excels at trauma and acute emergencies &ndash; the surgeon patching you up after an accident, the ER doctor saving your life &ndash; it fails more often when it comes to chronic illness. Real healing requires cooperation between doctor and patient. &ldquo;The body is not a machine,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s the primary agent of its own healing.&rdquo; Antibiotics, surgeries, and medications can help, but the body and soul must be part of the cure.
Drew and Dr. Kheriaty discuss how to reclaim the heart of medicine: restoring human dignity, physician freedom, and patient responsibility. The goal is to rediscover what it means to truly heal.
The opinions expressed by the guest are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Relevant Radio.
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The&nbsp;best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It&rsquo;s free and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out <a href="https://relevantradio.com/listen/get-the-app/">here</a>.

Life can get busy, and it's easy to miss out on the captivating moments from your favorite Relevant Radio shows. But now, we've got you covered! "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" brings you the crème de la crème of Relevant Radio's programming. We carefully curate and compile the most engaging and relevant content from the past week, just for you! Get ready to catch up on faith, culture, current events, and personal growth, all in one convenient and easily accessible podcast. It's like having a front-row seat to the most compelling moments from Relevant Radio's diverse range of shows. So, whether you're an active Relevant Radio listener or new to our programming, "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" is your passport to a world of knowledge, growth, and inspiration.

Life can get busy, and it's easy to miss out on the captivating moments from your favorite Relevant Radio shows. But now, we've got you covered! "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" brings you the crème de la crème of Relevant Radio's programming. We carefully curate and compile the most engaging and relevant content from the past week, just for you! Get ready to catch up on faith, culture, current events, and personal growth, all in one convenient and easily accessible podcast. It's like having a front-row seat to the most compelling moments from Relevant Radio's diverse range of shows. So, whether you're an active Relevant Radio listener or new to our programming, "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" is your passport to a world of knowledge, growth, and inspiration.