{"id":40897,"date":"2025-10-11T22:18:39","date_gmt":"2025-10-11T22:18:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/?p=40897"},"modified":"2025-10-11T22:18:39","modified_gmt":"2025-10-11T22:18:39","slug":"rfk-jr-pushes-unproven-idea-about-circumcision-autism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/?p=40897","title":{"rendered":"RFK Jr. Pushes Unproven Idea About Circumcision, Autism"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"article__primary-video-container_1-0\" class=\"comp article__primary-video-container mntl-block\"><\/div>\n<figure id=\"figure-article_1-0\" class=\"comp figure-article mntl-universal-primary-image right-rail__offset text-utility-100 figure-landscape primary-image\">\n<div class=\"primary-image__media\">\n<div class=\"img-placeholder\" style=\"padding-bottom: 66.6%;\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"max-width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; margin: 1em auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/people.com\/thmb\/yrfSWJghMyO7VK_EnpUuGvyp9KQ=\/1500x0\/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(969x416:971x418):format(webp)\/Robert-F-Kennedy-Jr-101125-02-1ad663b729b54efb818b42b4852125f1.jpg\" alt=\"WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 30: U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a deal with Pfizer to lower Medicaid drug prices in the Oval Office of the White House on September 30, 2025 in Washington, DC. The Trump administration has reportedly reached an agreement with pharmaceutical company Pfizer to voluntarily sell its medications through Medicaid at lower prices.\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<div id=\"article-content_1-0\" class=\"comp article-content mntl-block\">\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-page_1-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-page mntl-block structured-content\" data-sc-sticky-offset=\"90\" data-sc-ad-label-height=\"24\" data-sc-ad-track-spacing=\"100\" data-sc-min-track-height=\"250\" data-sc-max-track-height=\"600\" data-sc-breakpoint=\"50em\" data-sc-load-immediate=\"4\" data-sc-content-positions=\"[1, 1250, 1550, 1950, 2350, 2750, 3150, 3550, 3950]\" data-bind-scroll-on-start=\"true\">\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block people-sc-block-callout mntl-sc-block-universal-callout theme-needtoknow\" data-tracking-id=\"mntl-sc-block-callout\" data-tracking-container=\"true\">\n<div class=\"mntl-sc-block-universal-callout__body\">\n<ul>\n<li>Robert F. Kennedy Jr. claimed there is evidence to suggest that boys who are \u201ccircumcised early\u201d have \u201cdouble the rate of autism\u201d \u2014 despite no credible studies supporting his statement<\/li>\n<li>The Health and Human Services Secretary said it is \u201chighly likely\u201d that circumcised boys develop autism because they are given Tylenol<\/li>\n<li>Experts have shut down claims that acetaminophen causes autism<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"><a href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/tag\/robert-kennedy-jr\/\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"internalLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\">Robert F. Kennedy Jr.<\/a> recently claimed there is evidence to suggest that boys who are <a href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/circumcision-rates-drop-in-us-amid-skepticism-of-medical-advice-11812844\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"internalLink\" data-ordinal=\"2\">\u201ccircumcised early\u201d<\/a> have \u201cdouble the rate of autism\u201d \u2014 even though scientists say there are no reliable studies to support the statement.<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_4-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\">The Health and Human Services Secretary made the claim during a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/shorts\/i5N65-XhvJY\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"externalLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\">Cabinet meeting<\/a> on Thursday, Oct. 9 while reiterating his personal belief that there is a link between childhood autism and taking Tylenol during pregnancy \u2014 despite <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2025\/09\/22\/health\/trump-autism-announcement-cause-tylenol\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"externalLink\" data-ordinal=\"2\">decades of evidence<\/a> to the contrary.<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_6-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\">\u201cThere\u2019s two studies that show children who are circumcised early have double the rate of autism. It\u2019s highly likely because they are given Tylenol,\u201d Kennedy said during the press conference, though he did not cite the studies to which he was referring.<\/p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_8-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block people-sc-block-featuredlink--people-app-promo mntl-block\">\n<div id=\"people-app-promo__left_1-0\" class=\"comp people-app-promo__left mntl-block\"><\/div>\n<div id=\"people-app-promo__text_1-0\" class=\"comp people-app-promo__text mntl-text-block\"><b>Our new app is here!<\/b> Free, fun and full of exclusives. Scan to download now!<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_10-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\">The politician may have been referring to a 2013 study of eight countries and a 2015 study based in Denmark that claimed to show a link between circumcision and autism, but they have since been strongly criticized by the medical community for their lack of proper scientific methodology.<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_12-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\">Helen Tager-Flusberg, autism researcher and professor emerita at Boston University, has called the methods used in the studies \u201cappalling,\u201d per <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scientificamerican.com\/article\/rfk-jr-cites-truly-appalling-studies-to-tie-autism-to-circumcision-and\/\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"externalLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\">Scientific American<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<figure id=\"mntl-sc-block_14-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block people-sc-block-image mntl-sc-block-image mntl-sc-block-image--no-theme no-theme figure-landscape figure-high-res\">\n<div class=\"figure-media\">\n<div class=\"img-placeholder\" style=\"padding-bottom: 66.6%;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_15-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\">Scientists <a href=\"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/full\/10.1111\/jebm.12482\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"externalLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\">reviewed the two studies<\/a>, along with a number of others related to male circumcision, in 2022, and they found no evidence supporting the claim that circumcision leads to autism.<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_17-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\">Tylenol&#8217;s parent company, Kenvue, told PEOPLE in a statement: \u201cWe believe independent, sound science clearly shows that taking acetaminophen does not cause autism. We strongly disagree with any suggestion otherwise and are deeply concerned about the health risks and confusion this poses for expecting mothers and parents.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_19-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\">Kenvue added, &#8220;Acetaminophen is also one of the most widely studied pain relievers and fever reducers in infants and children, and numerous randomized, controlled clinical trials support the safety of acetaminophen in infants and children when used as directed.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_21-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\">&#8220;The facts are that over a decade of rigorous research, endorsed by leading medical professionals and global health regulators, confirms there is no credible evidence linking acetaminophen to autism. We stand with the many public health and medical professionals who have reviewed this science and agree,&#8221; the company continued.<\/p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_23-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block people-sc-block-spotlight--mid-circ mntl-sc-block-spotlight--mid-circ mntl-block\">\n<div id=\"midcirc__card-list_1-0\" class=\"comp midcirc__card-list mntl-block\">\n<div id=\"midcirc-card__title_1-0\" class=\"comp midcirc-card__title mntl-text-block\">RFK Jr. Admits He Will &#8216;Make the Proof&#8217; that Tylenol Causes Autism, Despite Scientists Debunking the Theory<\/div>\n<div id=\"midcirc-card__image-wrapper_1-0\" class=\"comp midcirc-card__image-wrapper mntl-block\">\n<div class=\"img-placeholder\" style=\"padding-bottom: 66.6%;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"midcirc-card__title_2-0\" class=\"comp midcirc-card__title mntl-text-block\">RFK Jr.&#8217;s Nephew Joe Kennedy III Tells Uncle He Needs to Resign as Health Secretary: &#8216;None of Us Will Be Spared&#8217;<\/div>\n<div id=\"midcirc-card__image-wrapper_2-0\" class=\"comp midcirc-card__image-wrapper mntl-block\">\n<div class=\"img-placeholder\" style=\"padding-bottom: 66.6%;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_25-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\">Kenvue also addressed Kennedy\u2019s past statements regarding Tylenol and pregnancy, sating, &#8220;Acetaminophen is the safest pain reliever option for pregnant women as needed throughout their entire pregnancy.\u00a0Without it, women face dangerous choices: suffer through conditions like fever that are potentially harmful to both mom and baby or use riskier alternatives.\u00a0High fevers and pain are widely recognized as potential risks to a pregnancy if left untreated.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_27-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\">Kennedy has sparked controversy with his approach to autism, a neurodevelopmental disorder related to brain development that can cause limited and repeated patterns of behavior, challenges in communicating with others, and a breakdown of speech, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/autism-spectrum-disorder\/symptoms-causes\/syc-20352928\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"externalLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\">Mayo Clinic<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_29-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"><strong>Never miss a story \u2014 sign up for<a href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/people-news-daily-newsletter-sign-up-8692701\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"internalLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\"> PEOPLE&#8217;s free daily newsletter<\/a> to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer\u200b\u200b, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_31-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\">He announced plans for a <a href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/rfk-jr-to-launch-autism-registry-using-private-health-records-11720156\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"internalLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\">national registry of people<\/a> with autism using private medical records in April. Kennedy also sparked <a href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/rfk-jr-claims-people-with-autism-will-never-work-find-love-or-pay-taxes-11717083\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"internalLink\" data-ordinal=\"2\">intense backlash<\/a> that same month after claiming people with autism will \u201cnever pay taxes. They&#8217;ll never hold a job. They&#8217;ll never play baseball.\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_33-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\">Kennedy has additionally promoted <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/c0mzk2y41zvo\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"externalLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\">a scientifically debunked<\/a> claim that autism is caused by vaccines.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Robert F. Kennedy Jr. claimed there is evidence to suggest that boys who are \u201ccircumcised early\u201d have \u201cdouble the rate of autism\u201d \u2014 despite no credible studies supporting his statement &hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":40898,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-40897","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40897","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=40897"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40897\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":40899,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40897\/revisions\/40899"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/40898"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=40897"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=40897"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=40897"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}