Charity Refutes RFK Jr’s Claims Linking Autism and Circumcision

US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has sparked controversy and condemnation from autism advocacy groups after claiming that circumcision can cause autism during a recent government cabinet meeting.

The National Autistic Society (NAS), a prominent UK-based non-profit organization, has strongly denounced Kennedy’s assertion that “circumcised people have double the rate of autism” as dangerous misinformation not supported by scientific consensus. While Kennedy referenced a 2015 Danish cohort study that found an association between circumcision and autism, experts note that this single study did not establish causation.

This is not the first time Kennedy has made controversial claims about autism. He previously suggested that painkillers such as Tylenol could cause autism if administered to young children, another claim that lacks substantial scientific backing.

Mel Merritt, head of Policy and Campaigns at NAS, expressed serious concerns about the potential harm caused by such statements from high-ranking government officials. “This incessant focus on pseudo-scientific causes of autism means autistic people are forced to listen to the suggestion that they need to be cured, as though it’s not okay to be autistic and someone should be ‘blamed,'” Merritt said. “This is wrong and dangerous.”

The organization reported hearing from autistic individuals who feel frightened by the misinformation being spread at the highest levels of government, with some saying it has “scared” them into feeling they should hide their neurodiversity. Parents of autistic children have also reported feeling judged and scrutinized as a result of these public statements.

Merritt emphasized that these unsubstantiated claims divert attention from pressing issues affecting the autistic community. “These myths are a distraction from the real, urgent issues autistic people face,” she noted. “In England, waiting lists for autism diagnosis are growing, with average waits of over 17 months. The special educational needs system in schools is crumbling because of insufficient funding and only three in 10 autistic people are in work, one of the lowest of any disability.”

Kennedy, who has long been known for embracing controversial medical theories, was appointed as Health Secretary in the Trump administration despite widespread concerns from medical professionals about his views on vaccines and public health issues.

Earlier this year, the National Autistic Society mobilized over 27,000 people in a petition calling for an end to misinformation about neurodivergence. The campaign highlighted alarming statistics showing that nine out of ten autistic people have experienced poor mental health due to stigmatization, while 55 percent report avoiding public spaces for fear of discrimination.

“These baseless conversations about autism are exhausting, harmful, and a distraction from what we really need to talk about – how to create a society that works for autistic people,” the organization’s open letter states. “Baseless and offensive claims lead to judgment and harm towards autistic people and their families who are just trying to live their lives.”

Public health experts and medical organizations continue to emphasize the importance of evidence-based approaches to understanding autism, which is now widely recognized as a complex neurodevelopmental condition with genetic components, rather than a disorder caused by external factors like circumcision or common medications.