Controversy is brewing in the United States after Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. claimed that infant circumcision could be linked to autism, blaming the use of Tylenol (paracetamol) after the procedure.
RFK Jr. made the shocking statement during a Cabinet meeting with former President Donald Trump and other officials, saying boys who are circumcised “have double the rate of autism” because they are given Tylenol for pain relief, The Times of India reported.
His comments quickly went viral, sparking outrage among medical experts and ridicule online.
RFK Jr. appeared to be referencing a 2015 study published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, which compared circumcision rates and autism diagnoses in boys under 10. But experts say the study only showed correlation — not causation, and clearly stated that no data connected Tylenol use to autism.
Still, RFK Jr. doubled down on his claim, saying, “Anybody who takes the stuff during pregnancy unless they have to is irresponsible. We’re doing the studies to make the proof.”
At one point, the health secretary mistakenly said a pregnant woman took Tylenol “with a baby in her placenta” — a comment that drew mockery on social media for confusing the placenta with the uterus.
Medical professionals have since condemned the claim, warning that Kennedy’s statements could fuel misinformation about child health and pregnancy.
RFK Jr. who has long faced criticism for spreading unproven health theories — made similar remarks alongside Trump at the White House two weeks ago, promoting now-debunked links between Tylenol, vaccines, and autism.
Health experts insist there’s no scientific evidence connecting Tylenol or circumcision to autism, calling RFK Jr. remarks “dangerous” and “deeply misleading.”