RFK Jr. Breaks the First Rule of Medicine

[babylonsister]

https://politicalwire.com/2024/11/15/rfk-jr-breaks-the-first-rule-of-medicine/

RFK Jr. Breaks the First Rule of Medicine
November 15, 2024 at 10:34 am EST By Taegan Goddard

The New York Post editorial board slammed President-elect Donald Trump’s pick of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be Health and Human Service Secretary:

“The overriding rule of medicine is: First, do no harm.”

“We’re certain installing Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head Health and Human Services breaks this rule.”

[Deuxcents]

1. I didn't know RFK Jr has a medical background/education.

[babylonsister]

3. I don't think he does but

obviously that's not a requirement for the head of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.

[MurrayDelph]

22. Like so many (let's call them) rigid thinkers

He believes a self-perceived expertise in one field means expertise in all fields.

[Irish_Dem]

6. He has a law degree, but he failed the bar exam so could not practice law.

According to WIKI.

[Katinfl]

18. His background is the environment.

Whether as a a lawyer or an activist I’s mot sure. But no experience or background in health. God help us.

[Irish_Dem]

20. He has a law degree from University of Virginia.

He was hired as a prosecutor but fired when he could not pass the Bar Exam.

He then went into another direction.

His serious heroin addiction has been a problem since he was 15 years old.
His brother had the same addiction and it killed him.

Yes we have a man who could not pass the bar exam.
Who is obviously a paranoid psychotic drug addict who is in charge of our healthcare.

[womanofthehills]

31. He started taking drugs after his Uncle & father were killed

Stopped in late 20’s and became very active in AA. Been going to AA for 40 yrs and still goes to meetings every week.

[Irish_Dem]

32. I am not buying that he is clean and sober.

If so, he acts like a dry drunk.

And many people experience childhood loss and trauma and don't resort to killing as many
people as possible in their adult years.

[womanofthehills]

30. You have to be kidding

He’s been a top environmental lawyer in US & South America. He won millions for cancer victims of Roundup - taking on Bayer/Monsanto.

[Irish_Dem]

33. RFKjr flunked the New York bar exam July 1983.

In 1982, Kennedy was sworn in as an assistant district attorney for Manhattan.
He was fired in 1983 when he flunked the bar exam.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_F._Kennedy_Jr.#:~:text=In%201982%2C%20Kennedy%20was%20sworn,he%20resigned%20in%20July%201983.

[iluvtennis]

14. RFK Jr's lack of the expertise needed to run HHS is the qualifier for the position. TSF wants to blow up

all of the democratic institutions of the government and he does this by putting in UNQUALIFIED folks (Gaetz, RFK Jr, Tulsi, Hegseth )to lead the agencies.

Just SICKENING.

[ShazzieB]

26. He absolutely does NOT.

He has no medical or scientific background at all. Imo, he is a dangerous crackpot, and the idea of putting him in this position is terrifying.

Edited to add: His educational credentials consist of a bachelor's degree in political science and a law degree. Probably took one introductory science course to fulfill general studies requirements, just like I did.

[womanofthehills]

35. And then there is this

https://www.irishcentral.com/news/robert-f-kennedy-case-monsanto-roundup-weed-killer

[ShazzieB]

37. Yeah, I know he was a very successful environmental lawyer.

He had a great career doing that, accomplished some things that really helped people. A lawyer doesn't have to be a scientist to litigate science-based cases successfully. He just has to know how to pick the right expert witnesses and use them effectively. RFK Jr was obviously good at doing those things.

Imo, it's a shame he didn't stick with environmental law, because he could have continued to do good things with it. Unfortunately, he got off track somewhere along the line, started falling down conspiracy theory rabbit holes, and ended up deciding vaccines are all toxic and unsafe. He's already influenced a lot of people to stop vaccinating their kids, and in the position Trump wants to appoint him to, he'd be a major menace to public health.

I don't care how many major law cases he's won; when it comes to vaccines, I think he's a dangerous crackpot, and according to what I've read, so do most public health experts, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, who has written about some of the problems caused by RFK Jr and others in the antivaxx movement during the efforts to get people to be vaccinated for covid. I can't give you an internet link, but it's in the last chapter of Fauci's book, On Call, which I have on my Kindle App.

I'm not a health care professional or a public health expert myself, just a scientifically literate layperson who has read widely on vaccines, the antivaxx movement, and related topics. I believe strongly that vaccines havee a vitally important role to play in protecting public health, and I am strongly opposed to all efforts to convince people to be suspicious of vaccines and/or to encourage parents not to vaccinate their children according to the schedule recommended by the vast majority of pediatricians.

I don't think RFK Jr is evil. From what I've read, he evidently believes the junk science he's pushing and thinks he's trying to help people. However, any good intentions he may have don't make him any less wrong or any less dangerous, and they definitely don't make him qualified to head up the Dept. of Health and Human Services.

[Bluethroughu]

28. He has all kinds of worms and things...

Nothing Iver horse chew can't solve. You can clean your glasses and dentures with it too.

[The Unmitigated Gall]

2. Well, Donald Trump does nothing BUT harm. nt

[Dave Bowman]

4. And he enjoys it.

[MLWR]

13. 4. And he enjoys it.

He is the definition of a sadist.

[Doodley]

5. This alone is enough to make gains in 2026, as long as the Democratic campaign makes a enough noise.

[LostOne4Ever]

7. 2022 is a bit late... (nt)

[Doodley]

11. Fixed. Thanks!

[moose65]

10. Are we going back in time??

Just like Time-Traveling-Obama, who went back to 1961 and planted a fake birth announcement in a Honolulu newspaper!

[Doodley]

12. Fixed! Thanks!

[Grins]

8. The New York Post, no less. NM

[nycbos]

9. Do you think he actually believes the stuff he sells?

Or is it all just a grift?

Maybe it’s a combination? Or he genuinely just can’t tell the difference

[kiri]

24. Disbelief is threatening to both ego and purse.

"Do you think he actually believes the stuff he "

That is always the great question. I've asked this about tent preachers. If a man's or woman's livelihood and position in society depend on promoting certain beliefs, it is pretty clear they will come to believe, whatever the contradictions.

Disbelief = disloyalty is very threatening to both ego and purse.

[Irish_Dem]

34. I think RFK Jr. is a paranoid psychotic drug addict.

I think he believes this stuff.
And he is quite dangerous.

[rubbersole]

15. Duh.

Captain Roadkill belongs in an asylum.

[Native]

16. Read this gem of an excerpt from The Post's board!

Referencing an interview they did with him a couple of years back...

When it came to that topic [health] his views were a head-scratching spaghetti of what we can only call warped conspiracy theories, and not just on vaccines.

“Neocons” are responsible for America’s policy ills. “Pesticides, cellphones, ultrasound” could be driving an upswing in Tourette syndrome and peanut allergies.

He told us with full conviction that all America’s chronic health problems began in one year in the 1980s when a dozen bad things happened.

Convincing to the gullible conspiracy-hungry crowd on Twitter, but not to the rest of us.

In fact, we came out thinking he’s nuts on a lot of fronts.

A radical, prolonged and confused transition ordered by a guy like RFK Jr., who will use his high office to spout his controversial beliefs, leaves a lot of room for things to go wrong — and for people to wind up harmed or even dead.

This is a Murdoch publication that Trump actually cares very much about.

[IronLionZion]

17. The first rule of MAGA is maximize harm and craziness while enriching Trump loyalists

the second rule of MAGA is punish anyone who disagrees.

[LiberalArkie]

19. I think when trump takes office that he will replace Kennedy with his real pick, someone like Josef Mengele

[Irish_Dem]

21. RFKjr is a paranoid psychotic heroin addict.

Who is now in charge of our health care.
God help us.

[ShazzieB]

38. He's not in charge yet, thank god.

It looks likely that he will be, but it hasn't happened yet.

[Irish_Dem]

40. But he is already causing panic in patients and providers.

People are making healthcare decisions right now based on what will happen in a few months.

So it is already happening to some extent.

[Maru Kitteh]

23. This world no longer makes sense to me. My first reaction to the headline is "NO SHIT." Followed by

Last edited Fri Nov 15, 2024, 01:38 PM - Edit history (1)

"Really, what the hell does that have to do with anything?"

Of course he is a troll pick - THEY'RE ALL TROLL PICKS. This is like writing a column on suddenly noticing that Danny DeVito is not a tall guy.

[TBF]

25. Pharma lobbying is going to kill this before it starts -

the only way Trump gets this one through is a recess appointment. Big Pharma will go to every politician they regularly buy off (which is probably most of them) - and that will be the end of Worm Boy.

[UTUSN]

27. Well, he can use the defense that he has no connection to medicine.

[muriel_volestrangler]

29. Is it "don't tie a suppurating whale's head you chainsawed off to your car roof where it infects your kids"?

No, it could be "don't chuck roadkill around in a public park". Or maybe "avoid a lifestyle that leaves you with brainworms". Perhaps "don't become a heroin junkie"? "Don't abuse steroids"?

[electric_blue68]

36. Yeah, "do no harm" was the first thing that came to mind. Hooo, boy, definetly Big Harm as HHS.

It's terrible he went so around many bends, since he was a good environmental lawyer.

[Meowmee]

39. Among many other rules he has broken

and he has 0 medical training and NO credibility on any issues. He pandered to a fascist to gain power and get attention. He will eventually be chewed up and spit out by the top psycho imo.