U.S. autism data project sparks uproar over ethics, privacy and intent

“Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the nation’s top health official, repeatedly said before taking office that vaccines cause autism, despite overwhelming scientific evidence that they do not. He has declined to disavow his statements and has continued to promote a possible link.”

Having worked directly with autism researchers, I can confidently tell you that RFK is making a wild guess not based in current evidence. All the data we have indicate autism is a multifactorial condition with a genetic/developmental component that may or may not be affected by the environment.

RFK is genuinely a danger to health care in the United States.

Calling it a "guess" seems very generous at this point, saying it is a "lie" is more accurate I think.

Never attribute to malice what cannot be adequately explained by stupidity. And he is one stupid fuck.

"Grift" might be a more appropriate term and so the more appropriate aphorism might be:

> "It's difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends on not understanding it." -Upton Sinclair"

That's completely fair.

Never attribute to stupidity what looks ambiguous between stupidity and malice but makes a shit ton of money.

I don't know much about RFK Jr, I hope he is just stupid. But if you dig into the origins of the vaccine situation, much of it was driven simply by a desire to make money using vaccine manufacturers, and the "proof" was retrofitted to the goal with junk science that was essentially abusing disabled children. (Horribly invasive medical procedures with no medical necessity).

Why guess? Isn’t that basically what RFK is accused of doing?

Add a new rule: Don't assume that that rule is always true. Especially when the subject's income depends on either.

> Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the nation’s top health official

I just loooove that our "top health official" has absolutely zero medical or public heathcare education, openly believes and advocates for discredited and fraudulent medical perspectives and more.

> RFK is genuinely a danger to health care in the United States.

I could not agree with you more.

The head of most healthcare systems are administrators. An Environmental Lawyer with decades of experience suing corporations using science as evidence is one of the best matches we've had. Is he good? I dont know, but it is misperception and I think fairly illogical to expect an admin/leadership role to be done by a MD or research scientist. Not seeing many tech firms run by a lead developer either.