Kennedy: Medical Journals ‘Corrupt’ – US Health Chief
- Health Secretary, has launched a scathing attack on prominent medical journals, alleging they are in league with the pharmaceutical industry.
- Kennedy, a long-time promoter of vaccine misinformation and advocate for federal public health policy changes, made his accusations during a recent podcast.
- "We're probably going to stop publishing in The Lancet, New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA and those othre journals as they're all corrupt," Kennedy said.
Robert F. Kennedy jr., the U.S. Health Secretary, accuses major medical journals of corruption, alleging they’re in bed with Big Pharma. Kennedy is taking decisive action, threatening to prevent NIH scientists from publishing in these journals, escalating a fight against perceived corruption in the healthcare system. He singles out publications like The lancet, New england Journal of Medicine, and JAMA, claiming they are untrustworthy. KennedyS stance against the pharmaceutical industry’s influence is long-standing, echoing previous criticisms of journals that have broadcast medical research sence the 1800s. This comes as he continues a departmental overhaul.News Directory 3 is keeping close tabs on the story. What’s the scientific community’s reaction? Discover what’s next as the story unfolds.
Kennedy Accuses Medical journals of Corruption, Threatens NIH Action
Updated May 29, 2025
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., U.S. Health Secretary, has launched a scathing attack on prominent medical journals, alleging they are in league with the pharmaceutical industry. Kennedy is threatening to prevent government scientists from publishing in these publications, escalating his ongoing battle against what he views as corruption in the health care system.
Kennedy, a long-time promoter of vaccine misinformation and advocate for federal public health policy changes, made his accusations during a recent podcast. He specifically called out prestigious medical research journals, claiming they are untrustworthy.
“We’re probably going to stop publishing in The Lancet, New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA and those othre journals as they’re all corrupt,” Kennedy said.
He further stated that unless these journals undergo significant changes, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) scientists will be barred from publishing in them. Kennedy suggested creating alternative journals.
Kennedy has long criticized the pharmaceutical industry’s influence within the U.S. health care system. His recent remarks echo previous criticisms of these established medical journals, which have played a vital role in disseminating medical and biomedical research since the 19th century.
These journals rely on peer review, where experts rigorously evaluate submitted studies. Though, Kennedy contends that pharmaceutical companies control these publications, undermining their reliability.
“If you want to publish in a journal, you have to pay $10,000 to get the study published. So the pharmaceutical company concocts a study that shows the outcome that they want,” Kennedy said.
Kennedy cited Marcia Angell, a former senior editor at the New England Journal of Medicine, who argued in the early 2000s that much of today’s clinical research is unreliable.
Kennedy has also accused health agencies under his supervision of serving pharmaceutical companies’ interests. He has initiated a major departmental overhaul to combat bureaucracy and restore public trust in health authorities.
What’s next
The potential move to block NIH scientists from publishing in leading journals could substantially impact the dissemination of U.S.medical research and further strain relations between the health secretary and the scientific community.