Trump Administration's Health Report Cites Research That Doesn't Exist
The US government's 'Make America Healthy Again' or MAHA commission and its chief Robert F Kennedy Jr, find themselves in an embarrassing situation after a health report it released cited "totally fabricated" research material. The report was about children's health in America.
Two versions of the report were released over the last week - the first on May 22 and the revised and updated version on May 29, but upon scrutiny, it was revealed that the studies quoted in the report, upon which their entire findings were based, were completely fabricated. This was highlighted by the academics who were wrongly listed as the authors of those studies.
The report, which was focused on the chronic disease crisis among American children, listed its causes in detail and added its findings based on studies which were "fabricated" according to academics. The updated version of the report was also found to have used seven sources which do not even exist, US' digital news outlet NOTUS said.
But the Trump Administration tried to downplay the incident by claiming that it was due to "formatting issues". White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the country's top health panel - MAHA - will rework the report and share an update, but did not specify when. Moreover, she did not negate the substance of the report.
Make America Health Again was the brainchild of Robert F Kennedy Jr, and is based on Donald Trump's slogan 'Make America Great Again' or MAGA - which the Republican leader used widely during his electoral campaign, and even now as US President.
Robert F Kennedy Jr, who is the person in-charge of outlining America's health policy and outlook, is an intensely controversial figure, who has for long, promoted false claims that "autism comes from vaccines".
The research behind this week's report was being carried out by Mr Kennedy Jr's panel and was initiated after President Trump signed an executive order to "study the scope of the childhood chronic disease crisis and any potential contributing causes".
According to the BBC, the authors quoted in the studies mentioned in the government report have said, that not only have they not written them, but the studies do not even exist, to begin with.
One of the named authors, Guohua Li, a professor at Columbia University, spoke with news agency AFP, saying that the study their name is linked to is "totally fabricated" and that the co-author - Noah Kreski - whose name is mentioned along with his, is a person he has never even heard of.
When AFP contacted him, Noah Kreski, who is a researcher at Columbia University, also denied being a part of any such study, and said the same about Mr Li. He added that "It doesn't appear to be a study that exists at all."
Several other authors named in the MAHA report have similar complaints and are concerned about their names being used over fictitious studies without their knowledge. Citations are a critical part of scientific research and add authenticity and credibility to scientific findings.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
31 minutes ago
- Time of India
Starvation crisis in Gaza: Hospitals struggle as babies die, medical staff collapse from hunger
Starvation is silently devastating Gaza as the humanitarian crisis deepens with every passing day. Hospitals struggle to care for patients and newborns amid crippling shortages of food, medical supplies, and vital nutrients. Nurses faint from hunger, doctors face impossible choices, and infants are given only water to survive. With a blockade choking aid deliveries and food prices soaring, Gaza's most vulnerable, especially children and mothers, are paying the highest price in what experts call a deliberate weaponization of starvation, the NYT reported. Hospitals on the brink: Staff fainting, formula running out In Gaza's few remaining hospitals, a grim scene unfolds: nurses fainting from hunger and dehydration, patients and staff going without meals, and doctors running out of life-saving formula and nutritional fluids. Newborns are sometimes given only water, a deadly stopgap. Critical shortages: IV fluids and malnourished infants At least three major hospitals lack the intravenous fluids necessary to treat malnourished children and adults. Doctors describe helplessly managing the decline of starving infants, unable to safely flood their weakened bodies with nutrients without risking fatal complications. Doctors speak out: 'Man-made starvation' as a weapon 'I have seen babies brought in starving and malnourished, unable to be saved,' Dr Ambereen Sleemi, an American surgeon volunteering in Gaza, was quoted by the NYT as saying. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Unsold 2021 Cars Now Almost Free - Prices May Surprise You Unsold Cars | Search Ads Learn More Undo British volunteer Dr Nick Maynard called it 'man-made starvation', a weapon of war that will claim countless more lives unless aid reaches Gaza immediately. Starvation deaths surge amid war Starvation deaths have surged in recent weeks, with 56 Palestinians dying of hunger just this month alone, nearly half of all such deaths since the war began 22 months ago, according to Gaza's health ministry. Medical staff collapsing amid shortages Medical staff, already stretched thin treating war wounds, now collapse in operating rooms and wards due to severe malnutrition and exhaustion. Hospitals face desperate shortages of antibiotics, painkillers, and special feeding drips. Blockade chokes aid, puts lives at risk The crisis is driven by a months-long blockade on aid imposed by Israel, which has severely restricted food and medical supplies entering Gaza. While some aid now trickles in, distribution is controlled by Israeli-backed contractors and limited to a few sites far from many Palestinians, forcing people to risk deadly military fire just to reach food. Infants and mothers starving: The deadly toll 'The immediate cause of death for many infants is simple: They do not get enough to eat, and neither do their mothers,' said Dr Hani al-Faleet, pediatric consultant at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. Starvation triggers other health crises Starvation also worsens other conditions. Malnourished mothers suffer miscarriages and premature births; babies born too weak to survive; and infections and immune collapse rise sharply. Astronomical food prices push families to the edge Food prices in Gaza have skyrocketed, a kilogram of flour costs up to $30, tomatoes and rice nearly as much, making even basic sustenance unaffordable for most. Israel defends blockade, critics call it a 'blockade on life' Israel defends its blockade and new aid system as necessary to prevent Hamas from diverting supplies. However, humanitarians and many doctors reject this claim, calling it a blockade on life. Staff burden 'immense' as malnutrition hits medical teams Dr Mohammad Abu Salmiya, director of Gaza's largest hospital, said the burden on medical staff is 'immense,' with some fainting in emergency wards due to lack of food. A mother's struggle: Baby salam's fight for life The story of baby Salam Barghouth, three months old and severely malnourished, epitomizes the crisis. Her mother, Hanin, is too weak to leave home, and formula costs $120 a container, out of reach for most. Salam was born during war and now fights for survival amid starvation. More children suffer in silence: Yazan's story Elsewhere in Gaza, children like two-year-old Yazan Abu al-Foul suffer in silence, denied inpatient care due to equipment shortages. His family cannot feed him adequately. Doctors' warning: Urgent action needed to prevent more deaths Doctors warn: without urgent international intervention, more children and adults will die, victims of a slow-moving famine in one of the world's most embattled regions.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
'Biden couldn't finish a sentence without a nap': GOP drops autopen bombshell at Senate hearing
Tensions erupted during a fiery Senate Judiciary Committee hearing as GOP Senators accused Democrats of orchestrating a years-long cover-up of former President Joe Biden's cognitive health. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) delivered a blistering rebuke, demanding answers on who was truly making decisions in the White House. Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) questioned law professor John Harrison over the moral obligation of staffers to tell the American Public about President Biden's physical and mental health. Show more Show less
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
Who is Anjani Sinha, the Indian-origin surgeon nominated by Donald Trump as Singapore's ambassador?
Source: X Dr. Anjani Sinha, President Donald Trump 's nominee for U.S. Ambassador to Singapore, faced pointed criticism during his Senate confirmation hearing on July 9, after failing to answer several fundamental questions about the Southeast Asian nation and U.S. strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific region. Senator Tammy Duckworth pressed a seasoned orthopedic surgeon with no prior diplomatic experience, Sinha, on Singapore's trade surplus with the U.S., its role in ASEAN, and the strategic presence of the U.S. Navy in the region. His responses were inconsistent and at times inaccurate. The exchange quickly became tense, with Duckworth accusing Sinha of viewing the posting as a 'glamour job,' saying: 'You are not currently prepared for this posting, period, and you need to shape up and do some homework.' She added, 'You think this is a glamour posting, that you're going to live a nice life in Singapore, when what we need is someone who can actually do the work.' Who is Anjani Sinha? Despite the controversy surrounding his nomination, Dr. Anjani Sinha has had a long and accomplished career in medicine and business. He is a highly respected orthopedic surgeon and entrepreneur who has built multiple thriving medical practices across the United States. Early Life and Education Born in Bihar, India, Dr. Sinha earned his medical degree from Mahatma Gandhi Medical College. In 1972, he relocated to New Delhi, completing his residency at Safdarjung Hospital, affiliated with Delhi University and the Central Institute of Orthopaedics. In 1979, Dr. Sinha migrated to the United States. He interned at top institutions including Mount Sinai Medical Center and Long Island Jewish Medical Center, gaining a strong foundation in American medical practice. He would later specialize in orthopedic surgery and sports medicine. Career Dr. Sinha has established a prominent presence on the East Coast, building key-man orthopedic and surgical practices across eight locations in New York. He has also served as a senior surgical consultant in Florida. His work spans both the public and private sectors, interfacing with professionals across healthcare, business, and legal fields. Family and personal life Dr. Sinha has been married for 48 years to Dr. Kuntala 'Kiki' Sinha, a retired anesthesiologist and former faculty member at NYU. The couple became U.S. citizens in the mid-1990s after immigrating together in 1979. They have two children, Pooja (born 1981) and Sumeet (born 1983), both born in the United States. The Sinhas have embraced education as a core family value. Pooja is an alumna of Dartmouth and Harvard, while Sumeet studied at New York University and Columbia. They now have three grandchildren. As per The Edge Singapore, Dr. Sinha retains strong cultural and familial ties to India and the broader Indo-Pacific region. His extended family includes connections to Yashwant Sinha, a former Indian finance minister and the Opposition's candidate in India's 2022 presidential election.
