Primum non Nocere
Why Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Can’t Be HHS Secretary
Medical Ethics is not a Game
The Hippocratic Oath has long been a cornerstone of the practice of medicine. The original version was penned by the ancient Grecian physician, Hippocrates. It’s a pledge taken by doctors that outlines the ethical principles and responsibilities of the profession. Though the original oath has evolved significantly over time, its core themes of ethics, care, and respect for patients remain influential.
"First, do no harm" were not the first words Hippocrates scribbled, yet the phrazw had become the foundation upon which medical ethics sit. Admittedly, those exact words aren’t actually in the Hippocratic Oath. Instead, the idea comes from the general principles found in that oath and other ancient medical texts.
In Hippocrates’ writing in Epidemics, he advises doctors to be mindful of the harm their treatments might cause. He wrote, "As to diseases, make a habit of two things—to help, or at least to do no harm." It’s a reminder that a doctor’s first job is to avoid making things worse for the patient.
The Latin version of this idea, primum non nocere ("first, do no harm"), came along much later. It started showing up in the 17th century when Thomas Sydenham, an English doctor often called the "English Hippocrates."
These days, "First, do no harm" is still a guiding rule in medicine. It’s a reminder for healthcare providers to always put patient safety first and to carefully weigh the risks and benefits of any treatment. The phrase sticks around because it captures the timeless importance of caution, care, and compassion in healthcare.
Why Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Can’t Be HHS Secretary
When it comes to running the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), we need someone who’s grounded, science-minded, and steady under pressure. Unfortunately, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is none of those things. Drumpf’s decision to nominate him for this critical role has left people across the political spectrum scratching their heads—and for good reason.
Kennedy isn’t just a controversial figure; he’s downright dangerous when it comes to public health. From pushing debunked anti-vaccine claims to diving deep into conspiracy theories, his track record makes it clear: He’s not the guy to put in charge of the nation’s health.
Here’s why his nomination is a bad idea.
A History of Harmful Misinformation
Let’s start with the obvious: Kennedy has spent years as one of the loudest anti-vaccine voices out there. He’s been a driving force behind the discredited claim that vaccines cause autism, a theory debunked by countless studies. But this isn’t just misinformation that stays online—it leads to real harm.
One of the most devastating examples is what happened in Samoa. In 2018, two infants tragically died after receiving improperly prepared MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccines. The error, which involved a nurse mixing the vaccine with an expired muscle relaxant instead of water, was heartbreaking but unrelated to the vaccine itself. The Samoan government paused its vaccination program to investigate, creating a window for Kennedy’s nonprofit, Children’s Health Defense, to swoop in.
Rather than helping restore trust in vaccines, Kennedy’s group spread fear and misinformation. They warned against vaccines without scientific backing, fueling public doubts. The consequences were catastrophic. Vaccination rates plummeted, and by 2019, Samoa faced a devastating measles outbreak. Over 57,000 people were infected, and 83 lives were lost—most of them children.
When asked about his role in the tragedy, Kennedy denied any responsibility. In an interview for the documentary Shot in the Arm, he claimed his actions had nothing to do with the outbreak. Yet the chain of events paints a clear picture: fear and misinformation drove down immunization rates, creating the perfect conditions for the outbreak to take hold.
Dr. Alastair McAlpine, a pediatrician who has spoken extensively about the dangers of vaccine misinformation, said, “It is hard to overstate what a terrible decision this is. RFK Jr. has no medical training. He is a hardcore anti-vaccine and misinformation peddler. The last time he meddled in a state’s medical affairs, 83 children died of measles.”
This isn’t just one isolated incident. Kennedy has a long track record of undermining public health efforts. His rhetoric and actions erode trust in vaccines and the institutions that save lives. As Public Citizen put it, “By appointing Kennedy as his secretary of HHS, Trump is courting another policy-driven public health catastrophe.”
With this kind of track record, do we really want someone like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. running HHS? His past isn’t just controversial—it’s dangerous.
Conspiracy Theories Galore
Kennedy’s not just stuck on vaccines—his rabbit hole of fringe theories goes way deeper. He’s claimed that public health initiatives aren’t about keeping people healthy but are instead part of a “nefarious project” to transform the world into a technocracy run by elites. In his worldview, figures like Anthony Fauci and Bill Gates aren’t public servants or philanthropists—they’re leaders of a “vaccine cartel” supposedly plotting global domination. That’s not a critique of public health policy; that’s a page ripped straight out of a conspiracy theorist’s playbook.
Then there’s his campaign against fluoride in drinking water. The scientific consensus is crystal clear: fluoride strengthens teeth and reduces cavities. But Kennedy has called for its removal, leaning on outdated or debunked claims about its safety. It’s the same with raw milk, which he touts as a health miracle. Public health officials warn that consuming unpasteurized milk can lead to dangerous bacterial infections, but Kennedy insists it’s a cure-all.
Even his stance on pandemic treatments showcases his tendency to reject evidence-based approaches. While the world was relying on rigorous studies to identify effective COVID-19 treatments, Kennedy was busy championing ivermectin, an anti-parasitic drug that’s been debunked as a cure for the virus.
What’s most alarming isn’t just the content of his beliefs but how he frames them. These aren’t policy debates grounded in science; they’re paranoia-driven narratives. To Kennedy, public health is less about data and more about shadowy elites pulling the strings.
When the person who might run HHS sounds more like a conspiracy blogger than a policymaker, it’s a recipe for disaster. The department’s job is to guide Americans through public health challenges with clear, science-backed policies—not to amplify unfounded fears and wild accusations.
This Job Requires Expertise—Not Chaos
Kennedy’s chaotic approach to public health isn’t just a collection of odd beliefs—it has real-world consequences. His track record of promoting misinformation has sown confusion, fear, and even led to public health crises. Let’s look at some examples where his rhetoric and actions caused harm or amplified chaos.
the 2018 incident in Samoa is the gold standard of Kennedy’s incompetence. The deaths were caused by medical negligence—the vaccines had been mixed with expired muscle relaxant instead of sterile water. The Samoan government quickly paused vaccinations to investigate and restore public trust. Kennedy involved himself and the result was 5,700 new infections and 83 deaths.
During the Covid pandemic, Kennedy latched onto disproven treatments like ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine, promoting them as miracle cures for COVID-19. He accused figures like Anthony Fauci of conspiring to suppress these treatments in favor of vaccines. This wasn’t just idle chatter—it fed into broader misinformation campaigns that made it harder to control the pandemic.
Kennedy also fought mask mandates and lockdowns, framing them as tools of government oppression rather than necessary measures to save lives. By doing so, he added fuel to the fire of pandemic denialism, undermining efforts to protect vulnerable communities.
Kennedy has taken aim at fluoride in drinking water, a public health measure widely recognized for reducing tooth decay. Despite decades of scientific evidence supporting its safety and efficacy, Kennedy calls for its removal, claiming it’s harmful and unnecessary. His attacks on fluoride have emboldened local movements to remove it from water supplies, leading to increased dental problems in affected areas.
Kennedy’s most infamous crusade remains his relentless campaign against vaccines. He’s repeatedly claimed they cause autism, a theory thoroughly debunked by study after study. But his influence has gone beyond spreading myths—he’s helped foster a culture of vaccine hesitancy that threatens herd immunity. Diseases once under control, like measles and whooping cough, are making comebacks in areas where vaccine coverage has declined.
These examples show that Kennedy’s chaotic leadership style and embrace of fringe theories don’t just stay in the realm of rhetoric. They ripple out, causing confusion, mistrust, and real harm. If he’s willing to spread this level of chaos as an activist, imagine the damage he could do as head of HHS.
Making the Extreme Sound Reasonable is Dangerous
Here’s a troubling part of the conversation around Kennedy: some people are trying to paint him as a misunderstood reformer. They point to his critiques of the “medical-industrial complex” and conflicts of interest in health agencies as evidence that he has a point.
For instance, Vinay Prasad, an oncologist and vocal critic of the pharmaceutical industry, has argued that Kennedy’s nomination could be an opportunity to address real issues. In one post, Prasad said, “Instead of attacking him, we should acknowledge what he is right about and give guidance.” He further emphasized that Kennedy’s views on reducing chronic disease and reforming health agencies deserve attention, even if his other positions are controversial.
But this line of thinking comes with serious risks. I don’t know who coined the term, but “sanewashing” is the perfect description of what’s happening here. It’s when extreme ideas and figures are polished up to seem reasonable, often by selectively focusing on their least harmful positions. Journalist Emily Oster explained this phenomenon well, writing in The New York Times, “Public-health authorities could start acknowledging that reasonable people may make different choices on a given issue,” in reference to Kennedy’s stance on fluoride and raw milk.
This approach, however, ignores the broader dangers of Kennedy’s rhetoric. As Dr. McAlpine bluntly put it, “It is hard to overstate what a terrible decision this is. RFK Jr. has no medical training. He is a hardcore anti-vaccine and misinformation peddler.”
By treating Kennedy as a reformer rather than a conspiracy theorist, his defenders risk legitimizing the very misinformation that undermines public health. Dr. Apurva Akkad, an infectious disease expert, warned, “It will be of the utmost importance to ONLY make public health decisions or changes based on robust evidence. I hope we have at least learned this much from Covid.”
This isn’t just about nuanced debate or differing perspectives. It’s about drawing a line between reasonable critiques and dangerous conspiracies. Kennedy’s defenders might see his nomination as a chance to spark reform, but in reality, they’re amplifying a voice that’s sown distrust and caused measurable harm. As Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy organization, stated plainly, “Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is a clear and present danger to the nation’s health. He shouldn’t be allowed in the building at the department of health and human services (HHS), let alone be placed in charge of the nation’s public health agency.”
In trying to justify the unjustifiable, Kennedy’s supporters risk not only their credibility but also the safety of the public they claim to serve.
The Stakes Are Too High
This isn’t just about Kennedy’s personal quirks or controversial beliefs—it’s about the health and safety of millions of Americans—and perhaps billions on the world stage. The role of the HHS Secretary is one of immense responsibility. The leader of the Dept. of Health and Human Services is the person we rely on to guide the country through health crises, oversee complex public health systems, and make decisions that can save—or cost—lives.
Appointing Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to this position would throw all of that into chaos. Representative Robert Garcia didn’t hold back, blasting the nomination as “fucking insane.” He elaborated on X (formerly Twitter), “He’s a vaccine denier and a tin foil hat conspiracy theorist. He will destroy our public health infrastructure and our vaccine distribution systems. This is going to cost lives.”
Dr. McAlpine echoed this warning, saying, “It’s hard to overstate what a terrible decision this is. RFK Jr. has no medical training. He’s a hardcore anti-vaccine and misinformation peddler. Remember that the last time he meddled in a state’s medical affairs, 83 children died of measles.”
These are not just opinions—they’re grounded in recorded history—the real-world consequences of Kennedy’s known past actions.
Public health isn’t a playground for conspiracy theories or a platform for promoting debunked ideas. It’s about science, evidence, and protecting people’s lives. Kennedy’s track record shows a blatant disregard for all three. If he were to take on this role, the nation wouldn’t just be gambling with policy—it would be gambling with lives.
That’s the kind of leadership we’d be dealing with if Kennedy were handed the reins at HHS. It’s not just a bad idea—it’s an outright danger.
“First, Do No Harm” Should Be Non-Negotiable
The phrase “First, do no harm” is a basic principle of medicine. It’s a standard that should apply to public health leadership, too. Kennedy’s track record shows he can’t meet that standard.
The Senate has a responsibility to reject this nomination. Public health isn’t a place for conspiracy theories or dangerous experiments. We need leadership that prioritizes evidence, trust, and the well-being of all Americans. Kennedy’s appointment would be a step backward when we can’t afford to lose any ground.
America’s health—and its future—deserves better.