 The pandemic has exposed the limitations of Western modernist thought, which has led to catastrophic climate change and the current coronavirus crisis. This has highlighted the need to address inequality and question the causes of the pandemic. Patient advocates, however, are not unified in their approach, with some focusing on narrow biomedical issues and allying themselves with the pharmaceutical industry. Medical cosmopolitans, or cosmetics, challenge this approach and instead advocate for global access to essential medicines. They force us to recognize our interdependence and entanglements, and the ludicrousness of treating patients as consumers. This article was authored by Orla Adonovan.