RFK Jr under fire for ‘bullying’ letter to scientific journal
Summary
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the US health secretary, sent a letter to the medical journal Toxicology Reports asking why it removed a paper linking vaccines to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The journal removed the paper after finding serious problems that could harm public health. Experts said Kennedy’s letter could be seen as trying to pressure or intimidate the journal.Key Facts
- The journal Toxicology Reports removed a 2021 paper suggesting a link between vaccines and SIDS due to serious flaws.
- The paper used data from the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), which anyone can submit reports to after vaccination.
- Experts criticized the paper’s methods and said the lead author, Neil Z Miller, misunderstood the VAERS data.
- Kennedy’s letter asked the journal editor questions about the removal decision and set a June 25 deadline for answers.
- Public health experts said Kennedy’s action might pressure the journal and threaten free speech principles.
- The paper’s removal followed an investigation and was done to prevent potential harm to patients.
- The journal’s publisher, Elsevier, confirmed the paper’s removal was based on expert review and public health concerns.
- Kennedy’s office did not respond to requests for comment on criticism of his letter.
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