HHS Secretary cites debunked autism study
- circumcisionchoice3
- Oct 10
- 3 min read
October 10, 2025
Yesterday Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, cited a study that was previously debunked on this website.
During a Trump administration cabinet meeting, Kennedy said, "There are two studies that show children who are circumcised early have double the rateof autism. It's highly likely because they’re given Tylenol." This statement follows Kennedy's controversial advice in September that "pregnant women should not take Tylenol because of the unproven risk that its active ingredient acetaminophen increases the risk of autism." [1] Kennedy cited a 2015 study by Danish researcher Morten Frisch, a longtime anti-circumcision activist. [2] As we pointed out several years ago, his study was full of methodological errors. For example, the study did not include Jewish ritual circumcisions performed by mohels, nor procedures performed by non-Danish physicians. Further, he compared the age of autism diagnoses in the United Kingdom with the age in Israel, ignoring the fact that the latter country has more thorough assessments for autism. [3][4]
Two pro circumcision researchers found additional flaws. Frisch reported that only 10.9% of Muslim boys age 0-10 were circumcised, a low number which they concluded "is improbable and undermines their findings." The researchers also noted that Frisch failed to "examine other painful conditions [such as] urinary tract infections [which] are associated with excrutiating pain ... and are very much higher in uncircumcised male infants and boys." [5] Frisch even conceded that his "findings obviously do not prove" any association between circumcision and autism. [2]
Frisch was the lead author of a 2013 letter signed by 38 mostly European doctors, in response to a 2012 Policy Sstatement on Circumcision by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Frisch has a clear bias, given his extensive campaign to criminalize circumcision in Denmark. He has frequently attacked Jewish and Muslim opponents, and he has blamed the Jewish practice of circumcision for antisemitism. [6]
Scientific American reported, “Neither study [that Kennedy cited] shows a causal link between circumcision - or the pain relief medications that are often proscribed along with the procedure - and higher rates of autism… There is also very little evidence that giving acetaminophen (sold under the brand name Tylenol) to babies or children increases their risk of being diagnosed with autism.” [7]
RELATED
[1] Bart Jansen; "Health Secretary Kennedy, Trump link circumcision to autism through Tylenol"; USA Today; October 9, 2025
[2] Morten Frisch and Jacob Simonsen; “Ritual circumcision and risk of autism spectrum disorder in 0- to 9-year-old boys: national cohort study in Denmark”; Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine; January 8, 2015
[3] "No, circumcision doesn't cause autism"; Circumcision Choice; April 3, 2021
[4] The above article was largely based on Ana Neyer's blog post: Ava Neyer, “The problem with articles on autism risks and how to evaluate studies. Or why circumcision is unlikely to increase rates of autism”; The Chimerical Capuchin; January 10, 2015
[5] Brian J Morris, Thomas E Wiswell; "'Circumcision pain' unlikely to cause autism"; Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine: August 2015
[6] "Antisemitism within intactivist leadership"; Circumcision Choice; August 13, 2022 [7] Allison Parahall; “RFK, Jr., Says Tylenol Use for Circumcision Causes Autism, Here’s Why That Claim is Flawed”; Scientific American; October 9, 2025
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