Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s health report, "Make America Healthy Again," is under fire. An investigation by Notus revealed that many studies referenced in the report do not exist. This raises significant questions about its validity.
The report, touted as a “gold-standard” piece of research with over 500 citations, claims to address the roots of chronic illnesses. Yet, some references appear to be entirely fabricated. For instance, two alleged studies on ADHD medication advertising were found to be non-existent. A Virginia Commonwealth University representative confirmed that researcher Robert L. Findling never authored one of the cited papers, while another citation only leads back to the report itself.
Additionally, claims about research on asthma overprescribing by pediatrician Harold J. Farber were also refuted. He stated he had no connection to the work cited in the report.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has yet to respond to these allegations. This controversy comes as Kennedy, a vocal vaccine skeptic, criticized reputable journals like the Lancet and NEJM for being "corrupt," suggesting they are influenced by pharmaceutical interests. He even proposed creating government-run medical journals as an alternative.
Further flaws in the report include incorrect representations of existing studies. For instance, one claim suggested that talking therapy was just as effective as psychiatric medication. However, statistician Joanne McKenzie clarified that psychotherapy wasn’t part of their review, making such a comparison impossible. Mariana G. Figueiro, a sleep researcher, also pointed out that her study was misrepresented, with details relating to participants being incorrect.
The Trump administration commissioned this report to examine factors contributing to chronic illnesses, including pesticides and mobile phone radiation. Kennedy branded it a “milestone” in health research, claiming it provides a strong foundation for significant policy changes.
As a follow-up, a report titled “Make Our Children Healthy Again” is expected in August. This raises further concerns about the scientific credibility that the administration’s health policies might rely on. Considering the growing focus on health issues, it’s crucial to evaluate the trustworthiness of sources to better inform policies that affect everyone’s well-being.
For further insights on this topic, you can refer to Notus’s analysis.