‘American children are highly medicated’: RFK Jr’s botched health report now cites studies that don’t even cover children

The Department of Health and Human Services, under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.‘s leadership, has encountered further complications with its “Making Our Children Healthy Again” (MAHA) report, as new errors surface following attempts to correct previous mistakes.

According to MSNBC, initially released two weeks ago, the MAHA report faced immediate scrutiny when The Washington Post identified issues with scientific representations and research interpretations. The report’s credibility was further questioned when NOTUS revealed that it misinterpreted studies and cited nonexistent research.

In a section titled “American children are highly medicated and it’s not working,” the report attempted to support claims about psychotherapy’s effectiveness over medication in treating children’s mental health. However, when trying to correct previous errors, the team cited a “systematic overview” by psychologist Pim Cuijpers, which actually focused on adults, not children, as confirmed by Cuijpers himself via email to NOTUS.

White House attempts to downplay errors raise concerns about scientific accuracy

When questioned about these discrepancies, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt attempted to minimize the situation by attributing it to “some formatting issues,” a response that failed to address the substantial problems with the document’s content.

The implications of these errors extend beyond simple mistakes. As the Trump administration reduces research funding for federal health agencies and academic institutions, while challenging scientific consensus on various health issues, the MAHA report’s inaccuracies suggest a declining commitment to scientific precision at the federal government level.

The impact of these developments is particularly concerning given RFK Jr.’s role as Secretary of Health and Human Services, a position that involves making crucial policy decisions affecting Americans’ health and well-being.

Recent reporting by The Associated Press indicates that public health infrastructure has been significantly diminished, with numerous health programs and personnel being cut. This reduction comes at a critical time when the nation faces its deadliest measles outbreak since the 1990s, increasing whooping cough cases, and potential bird flu risks, leading to what the AP describes as a shift away from the fundamental concept of public health.