The UK’s National Autistic Society (NAS) has strongly criticised US health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for spreading false claims linking circumcision and painkillers to autism.
During a recent US government cabinet meeting, Kennedy claimed that circumcised individuals experience “double the rate of autism” — a claim not backed by scientific evidence. While a single 2015 Danish cohort study suggested an association, experts have stressed that it did not demonstrate causation.
This isn’t the first time Kennedy — a long-time Trump ally known for promoting conspiracy theories — has made such claims. He previously suggested that common pain relief medications like Tylenol (paracetamol) could contribute to autism when given to children. This assertion, too, lacks support from current scientific consensus.
“Not Based on Any Robust Research”
The National Autistic Society labelled Kennedy’s comments as “dangerous” and grounded in “no form of rigorous, robust research.”
Mel Merritt, Head of Policy and Campaigns at NAS, warned that such misinformation not only misleads the public but can also put lives at risk.
“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 NAS revealed that in recent weeks, some autistic individuals have expressed fear and shame as a result of Kennedy’s public statements, while parents of autistic children have reported increased feelings of judgment and scrutiny.
Real Issues Being Ignored
Merritt stressed that these harmful myths shift attention away from the actual challenges autistic people face every day.
“These myths are a distraction from the real, urgent issues autistic people face,” she said. “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 due to underfunding, and only three in 10 autistic people are in work – one of the lowest employment rates of any disability.”
Public Pushback Against Stigma
Earlier this year, more than 27,000 people signed a National Autistic Society petition demanding an end to misinformation around autism and neurodivergence.
The petition pointed to concerning statistics: nine in ten autistic people have experienced poor mental health due to stigma, and over half (55%) avoid leaving the house out of fear of discrimination.
The NAS’s open letter stated:
“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.
“Baseless and offensive claims lead to judgment and harm towards autistic people and their families who are just trying to live their lives.”
