RFK Jr. threatens the structure of health care

With the November 5 election, health policy is once again at the forefront of political discourse. Recently, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made headlines after presidential candidate Donald Trump indicated that, if elected, Kennedy might “wild from health” with a White House health policy role. Kennedy made alarming comments about reviewing critical health agenciesand over the weekend he said fluoride is a “industrial waste” and should be removed from public drinking water. All of this has sparked renewed discussion about the future of our health care system.

As an emergency department physician, I have witnessed firsthand the profound impact that health policies can have on patient care. The question of who has a hand in health care policy in the White House is deeply personal to me and crucial to every voter.

In my daily practice, I encounter patients whose lives are affected by decisions made far beyond the walls of the emergency department. For example, I recently treated a young mother who came into crisis with her child suffering from an asthma attack exacerbated by lack of access to preventive medication due to insurance issues. Her story is not unique; reflects a systemic failure of the policies governing access and affordability of healthcare. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, one in four Americans report skipping needed medical care because of cost. That number jumps to six in 10 among the uninsured. The current landscape is full of challenges, and the ramifications of a wrong health policy can be catastrophic.

While The Trump campaign is back initial report that Kennedy would control agencies such as HHS, CDC, FDA, and NIH, is said to be given a role in women’s health and nutrition, and track federal vaccine data to prove they are “not safe”. This introduces a major risk: giving Kennedy, who has a long history as an anti-vaccine activist, access to information with the stated purpose of disproving vaccine safety. For public health, which relies on transparency and data integrity, this could be disastrous, further eroding the fragile public trust in vaccines and threatening the progress we have made in controlling infectious diseases.

Vaccination rates are already falling, with CDC reports significant declines in adult and childhood coverage during the pandemic. Vaccines are one of the greatest public health successes in history, and further undermining their importance would endanger countless lives. With Kennedy giving him a platform to spew more anti-vaccine rhetoric, the implications could be disastrous.

But vaccines aren’t the only health intervention that would hang in the balance if put in a position of power. Kennedy’s statements against antidepressants — claiming they are linked to increase in school shootings — would have profound consequences. A National Health and Nutrition Survey found that about 13 percent of Americans age 18 and older used antidepressants, indicating a widespread reliance on these drugs for mental health treatment.

Furthermore, Kennedy’s unfounded claims that Exposure to Wi-Fi can lead to cancer demonstrates a troubling disregard for evidence-based medicine such as multiple studies and federal guidance In this sense, it does not suggest any causal link between Wi-Fi exposure and cancer. Such rhetoric about Wi-Fi and antidepressants not only spreads misinformation, but also discourages people from seeking appropriate care.

At a time when trust in our health care system is already low — in large part due to misinformation amplified during the pandemic — having Kennedy in a position of power would further erode public trust. According to a 2022 Gallup poll, only 38% of Americans expressed confidence in the health care system, the lowest since the survey began in 2001. The consequences of Kennedy’s leadership could extend far beyond policy changes; it could influence the very structure of our health care system.

We are already seeing an alarming increase in healthcare violence against providers. The American College of Emergency Physicians found that 91% of emergency physicians said that they or a colleague had been victims of violence in the past year. This trend correlates with the spread of misinformation. When patients do not trust the health care system, they may burst against those who try to help. At a time when attacks on doctors are on the rise and trust is already low, is there a need to fan the flames?

As voters and health care professionals, we need to critically evaluate health policy discussions rather than passively accept the rhetoric. The stakes are high, and our voting choices will directly impact the future of healthcare in the US. It is imperative that we engage in evidence-based conversations focused on improving patient outcomes and ensuring equitable access to care. We must challenge leaders who promote policies that threaten our collective health and safety.

Let’s prioritize healthcare as a key issue as we head to the polls. We must advocate for leaders who value science and evidence-based practices over fear mongering and misinformation. We have the power to shape a system that prioritizes patient care over political agendas. It’s time to demand informed elections and hold our leaders accountable for the policies they propose. The health of our nation hangs in the balance. Together, we can create a future where health policy is rooted in truth, understanding, and respect for the science that guides our profession.

Owais Durrani, DO, is an emergency physician in Houston with a background in political science. Before earning his medical degree, he worked in the Obama administration.