US health secretary bucks expert opinion as research shows rise in diagnoses due to better tools and screening
The US health secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr, said in his first press conference that the significant and recent rise in autism diagnoses was evidence of an “epidemic” caused by an “environmental toxin”, which would be rooted out by September.
Autism advocates and health experts have repeatedly stated the rise in diagnoses is related to better recognition of the condition, changing diagnostic criteria and better access to screening. Many also reject the label of an “epidemic”, arguing that neurodivergence should be valued.
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RFK disagreed with the consensus of health researchers, and said that “we need to move away” from the idea that the increase in autism prevalence “is simply due to better diagnostic tools”.
So let’s give this asshole the benefit of doubt for a moment and see where this goes.
Let’s say an environmental toxin is found to be linked to autism. Great, what’s next? Will the EPA be allowed to regulate the industries that produce or use it? Will other agencies be allowed to make policy banning its use? Will there be fines and punishment for those who knowingly introduced these chemicals into the world? No? Great! We now know what causes autism but we’re powerless to stop it.
Thought experiment concluded.
RFK Jr. is the kind of person who starts off saying something reasonable like we need to focus on the foods and chemicals we allow into our bodies and then, surprise non sequitur, drinking water from the sewer is guaranteed to increase your body’s natural immunity to dysentery.