Controversy is rising in the United States after Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.) claimed that infant circumcision could be linked to autism, alleging that the use of Tylenol (paracetamol) after the procedure plays a role.
The unexpected statement was made during a Cabinet meeting with President Donald Trump and other top officials.
According to The Times of India, RFK Jr. said that boys who undergo circumcision “have double the rate of autism” because they are given Tylenol for pain relief.
His comments, which immediately went viral, have since sparked backlash from medical experts, parents, and scientists, who warn that such statements could spread misinformation about child health.
RFK Jr. appeared to reference a 2015 study published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, which compared circumcision rates and autism diagnoses among boys under 10 years old.
However, experts clarified that the study only found a correlation, not causation, and specifically noted that no evidence linked Tylenol use to autism.
Despite this, Kennedy doubled down on his stance, insisting that more research is underway. “Anybody who takes the stuff during pregnancy unless they have to is irresponsible. We’re doing the studies to make the proof,” he said.
Moreover, during his remarks, RFK Jr. mistakenly stated that a pregnant woman took Tylenol “with a baby in her placenta,” confusing the placenta with the uterus a slip-up that quickly drew ridicule across social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok.
Medical professionals have condemned Kennedy’s comments, describing them as “deeply misleading” and “potentially dangerous.”
According to pediatricians, Tylenol is commonly prescribed for pain relief in infants and adults, and there is no scientific evidence linking it to autism or neurological disorders.
In addition, health experts noted that Kennedy’s history of promoting vaccine skepticism and unverified health theories has long made him a controversial figure in American politics and public health discussions.
“This kind of misinformation can discourage parents from seeking safe medical treatments,” one U.S. pediatric specialist told CNN.
“There’s simply no link between Tylenol, circumcision, and autism.”
Meanwhile, social media users expressed disbelief over Kennedy’s statements, with many accusing him of spreading fear for political attention.
Some, however, called for more accountability in the health sector’s communication to the public.
RFK Jr., who made similar remarks alongside Trump two weeks earlier, continues to face scrutiny from scientists and fact-checkers.
Health agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reaffirmed that autism spectrum disorder is not caused by Tylenol or circumcision but rather linked to complex genetic and developmental factors.
