# Could RFK Jr. Really Become HHS Secretary? {Yes, he did} **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 30, 2024, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451 "2024-10-30T16:19:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 20
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2025, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/382 "2025-09-23T16:52:34Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > The study showed that around 1.42% of children exposed to acetaminophen during pregnancy were autistic, compared to 1.33% of children who were not exposed ─ a “very small” difference, says Ahlqvist. Looking up the study (to get the exact numbers), it appears that this result is statistically significant (by a fair margin). That said, I believe that this isn’t new news. As I recall, this is a known concern but acetaminophen might be given, for example, in cases where the mother’s experiencing a fever and her body is going to fry the baby, resulting in even worse outcomes. It’s a calculated risk. And, of course, the issue could be the thing that lead to the acetaminophen being prescribed - e.g. the raised temperature. I’m not sure that causality has been demonstrated. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2025, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/383 "2025-09-23T16:58:46Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > Looking up the study (to get the exact numbers), it appears that this result is statistically significant (by a fair margin). I’d want to see that replicated. Several times. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2025, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/384 "2025-09-23T17:05:50Z")
Actually, yes, I see a Nature report on the subject. As they point out, the question isn’t whether the numbers are accurate it’s whether causality has been demonstrated and it hasn’t been. The current evidence would be that that the sorts of ailments that would lead to acetaminophen being prescribed are also the sorts of ailments that could raise the likelihood of autism. [https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-02876-1](https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-02876-1) D’oh. That’s exactly what @PhillyGuy posted. Shows me for doing my own research! ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2025, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/385 "2025-09-23T17:15:08Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > Would totally not surprise me, and that’s a good explanation for why “Tylenol” rather than “acetaminophen”. I think it’s more likely that neither RFK Jr. nor Trump can pronounce “acetaminophen” ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2025, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/386 "2025-09-23T17:18:02Z")
Indeed, if you watched the press conference you could see Trump struggling to pronounce “acetaminophen.” ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2025, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/387 "2025-09-23T18:58:04Z")
The popularity of the cell phone draws a more closely related correlation to autism than Tylenol. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2025, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/388 "2025-09-23T19:39:46Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > The current evidence would be that that the sorts of ailments that would lead to acetaminophen being prescribed are also the sorts of ailments that could raise the likelihood of autism. So, it’s like claiming that acetaminophen causes headaches, because there is a correlation between people taking Tylenol and people with headaches. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2025, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/389 "2025-09-23T19:40:45Z")
Effectively. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2025, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/390 "2025-09-23T23:19:14Z")
Some levity > ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2025, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/391 "2025-09-23T23:22:25Z")
I’m genuinely left wondering whether this is truth or satire. We truly live in insane times. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2025, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/392 "2025-09-23T23:23:40Z")
I’m sure it causes job insecurity for the good folks at the Onion. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2025, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/393 "2025-09-24T00:00:34Z")
> [@TeroSunbear](#): > > One study in particular was focused on acetaminophen in the babies at birth. Those things are compiled and tabulated. From the study: > [@](#): > > **Limitations** > The present study has some limitations. First, it only included a 1-time measurement of cord acetaminophen metabolites at birth. Given that the half-life of acetaminophen in adults is less than 3 hours, **the cord plasma measurement may at most reflect maternal use of acetaminophen during the peripartum period.** [Bolding mine] So it’s useless. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2025, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/394 "2025-09-24T00:53:32Z")
It’s been noted that ice cream sales and crime rates both increase during the summer. It would be a grave mistake to think that one is causing the other. Women who take a lot of Tylenol tend to have heath concerns during pregnancy. That certainly doesn’t mean that the Tylenol is causing the health issues in their children. _But_, I would note the unspoken significance of this announcement: despite his best efforts, RFK Jr couldn’t show any connection between vaccines and autism. If there had been anything he could grasp onto, I’m certain that he would have been crowing loudly about the scientific evidence. Instead, we get this easily debunked claim about headache medicine. ETA: Today I learned that acetaminophen is called **paracetamol** in Europe. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2025, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/395 "2025-09-24T01:02:27Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > I’m sure it causes job insecurity for the good folks at the Onion. Yes, because this administration is so crazy that the right wing Babylon Bee is a new Onion competitor. Here’s another example: [YouTube: Autism Strength](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0EGBTnxLg7o&pp=ygULQmFieWxvbiBiZWU%3D) ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2025, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/396 "2025-09-24T01:03:39Z")
> [@MrAtoz](#): > > Indeed, if you watched the press conference you could see Trump struggling to pronounce “acetaminophen.” It is a wonder to behold how stupid our president really is. I think that is Doc Oz on the right that proudly nods when his idol finally gets the pronunciation in the ballpark. > ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2025, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/397 "2025-09-24T01:08:54Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > I think that is Doc Oz on the right Doctor Oz has a financial stake in a company that produces folinic acid, which the administration is touting as a cure for Autism. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2025, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/398 "2025-09-24T01:10:15Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > It is a wonder to behold how stupid our president really is. I think that is Doc Oz on the right that proudly nods when his idol finally gets the pronunciation in the ballpark. His base loves this shit. He’s just like one of them - has trouble pronouncing big complicated words and isn’t even ashamed of it! ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2025, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/399 "2025-09-24T01:28:32Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > Doctor Oz has a financial stake in a company that produces folinic acid, which the administration is touting as a cure for Autism. I’m probably as much against Oz as the average Democrat, or more, but I do not know that there is current evidence for the conflict of interest. [From the New York Times:](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/23/health/fda-autism-treatment-leucovorin.html?unlocked_article_code=1.oU8.LOdv.KmzscY9wR0vD&smid=url-share) > [@](#): > > Dr. Oz, who joined Mr. Trump and Dr. Makary for the announcement on Monday, previously acted as a pitchman for iHerb and had holdings in the company that were valued at an unspecified figure in the range of $5 million to $25 million, according to his disclosure forms. > > In a disclosure form signed in June by Dr. Oz, he reported that he had sold his stock in iHerb. He also resigned from positions with the company earlier this spring, a spokesman for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2025, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/400 "2025-09-24T02:15:24Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > I’m probably as much against Oz as the average Democrat, or more, but I do not know that there is current evidence for the conflict of interest. Yes, this theory has been debunked at this point. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2025, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/401 "2025-09-24T03:11:13Z")
I would completely trust a doctor who couldn’t pronounce a drug he was warning me against. Why shouldn’t I trust a President? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451.md?page=19) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451.md?page=21)