Kennedy and Oz nominations undermine trust in our public health system
By Richard A. Evans, MD
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Dr. Mehmet Oz, nominated by Donald Trump for key roles in public health, have extensive histories of spreading misinformation that have undermined public trust in science-based health measures. Kennedy is a prominent anti-vaccine activist who has repeatedly promoted false claims about vaccine safety, including stating that the COVID-19 vaccines are “the deadliest vaccine ever made,” a claim debunked by health experts and multiple evidence-based studies.
His reliance on data from the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System misrepresents correlation as causation, misleading the public into believing vaccines are more dangerous than they are. This rhetoric contributed to vaccine hesitancy during the pandemic, endangering public health efforts to control the spread of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.
Kennedy’s broader health policies also align with libertarian “medical freedom” ideologies, which experts fear could dismantle public health regulations that protect vulnerable populations. His approach often prioritizes fringe theories over evidence-based practices, making him ill-suited to manage a complex federal department like the Department of Health and Human Services.
Dr. Mehmet Oz, a television personality and Trump’s nominee for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, has a long record of promoting unproven and sometimes harmful health products. Investigations have shown that he endorsed supplements and remedies lacking scientific validation, raising ethical concerns about his commitment to medical integrity. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he advocated for treatments like hydroxychloroquine without robust evidence of efficacy, undermining trust in legitimate public health recommendations. Worst of all, Dr. Oz has manifested an egregious lack of integrity by continuously promoting unproven treatments and cures in the interest of personal financial gain.
Medical experts have criticized both nominees for their departure from evidence-based medicine. Dr. Kavita Patel, who previously served as director of policy for the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement during the Obama Administration, has highlighted how unqualified leadership in federal health agencies can erode public confidence and hinder coordinated responses to health crises, further indicating that, Kennedy “will not make anyone healthier.”
Dr. Richard Besser, former acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and current president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, as well as numerous other leaders in public health, have emphasized the importance of scientific expertise in these roles as public health officials, expertise which neither Kennedy nor Oz possess.
The broader implications of these two nominees reflect Trump’s broader strategy to bypass established norms in governance, including threatening recess appointments and undermining security clearances. These actions aim to centralize power, reduce accountability, and sideline expert voices, threatening the effectiveness of key institutions. Experts like Dr. Anthony Fauci have repeatedly warned about the dangers of politicizing public health and dismissing science in decision-making.
If these nominees are confirmed, they could exacerbate public distrust in health institutions, weaken responses to future health crises, and disrupt the evidence-based frameworks that protect American lives. Ensuring qualified and ethical leadership in health agencies is critical to maintaining the integrity and functionality of the U.S. health care system.
Dr. Evans is a surgeon in Dover-Foxcroft. He is a past president of the Maine Medical Association and a Maine delegate to the American Medical Association. He served in the Maine House of Representatives in the 130th Maine Legislature.