Greater than 15,000 docs throughout the nation signed an open letter urging senators to vote in opposition to President-elect Trump’s nominee for secretary of the Division of Well being and Human Providers (HHS): Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Within the letter, physicians say they’re “appalled” by Trump’s “reckless” appointment of Kennedy, arguing he can be “dangerous” if confirmed to the highest public well being publish.
“This appointment is an affront to the principles of public health, the tireless dedication of medical professionals, and the trust that millions of Americans place in the health care system,” the letter reads.
The letter was printed on-line Thursday by the Committee to Shield Well being Care.
Physicians’ outrage over Kennedy’s nomination stems primarily from his many controversial well being stances, together with the long-debunked concept that vaccines contribute to autism and that college shootings are linked to antidepressant use, in line with the letter.
“RFK Jr. Has a well-documented history of spreading dangerous disinformation on vaccines and public health interventions, leaving vulnerable communities unprotected and placing millions of lives at risk. His appointment is a direct threat to the safety of our patients and the public at large.”
An environmental lawyer by commerce, Kennedy is extra well-known for being a outstanding vaccine skeptic who based the antivaccine nonprofit group Youngsters’s Well being Protection.
Whereas Kennedy has denied that he’s in opposition to vaccines, he has an extended file of repeating debunked claims about potential harms brought on by vaccines. He has repeated the false declare that autism comes from vaccines and pushed conspiracy theories that the COVID-19 vaccine was designed to spare Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese language individuals.
“This appointment is a slap in the face to every health care professional who has spent their lives working to protect patients from preventable illnesses and death,” the letter continues.
The letter is a part of a broader marketing campaign effort from the Committee to Shield Well being Care to encourage well being care staff to attempt to cease Kennedy’s affirmation as HHS secretary. Docs and different well being care staff are inspired to contact senators, e-mail the American Medical Affiliation and different skilled teams as a part of the marketing campaign.
Kennedy is at the moment assembly once more with senators on Capitol Hill this week to persuade lawmakers to vote in favor of his HHS secretary affirmation. If each Democratic senator opposes him in his affirmation listening to, he’ll want all however three Republican votes to be confirmed to the place.
A spokesperson for Kennedy has but to reply to a request for remark from The Hill.
