Protecting one's own interests in keeping rights protected is not paranoid thinking. The problem is "science" has turned into a religion. Where the faithful use their faith to justify locking down & taking away the rights of others. And transforming the economy in their favor. The integrity of the scientific institutions has turned cynical & beholden to capital interests. It's obvious.
Hypocrisy in how the Covid policies were enforced don't help. BLM rallys & the political elite should not be exempt from Covid rules when the rest of the public is locked down.
There comes a point where oopsies need to be harshly condemned. Even if the oopsies are not cynical. We don't let our children get away with oopsies. Why should the "experts" get a free pass? The "experts" are not supposed to make oopsies.
I can see the logic of seppuku in stopping misconduct. Not saying that should be policy. But real consequences to incompetence or cynicism by "experts" is needed. If the corporations & government cannot deliver these real consequences, then the public must pick up the slack. Or incompetence & cynicism are rewarded & grow more prevalent.