HJNO Jul/Aug 2025

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS I  JUL / AUG 2025 11 • Medical schools — accused of accepting pharmaceutical manufacturer money to train physicians to use their drugs. • Pediatricians and physicians — implicated in passively accepting diagnostic and prescribing trends without questioning upstream causes. • Public health professionals — many will be defensive about critiques of the system they serve, particularly those who worked dur- ing COVID. • Professional associations (e.g., AAP, AMA) — criticized for endorsing policies perceived as industry-aligned. Politicians & Lobbyists • Presidents and presidential candidates — both parties, for taking large donations from industry. • U.S. Supreme Court justices. • Congressional leaders — both parties, for taking large donations from industry. • State legislators — often vote based on industry influence, not public health evidence. • Lobbyists — MAHA frames political lobbying as a form of institutional corruption, especially when it influences scientific or health policy. Media & Cultural Gatekeepers • Mainstream media outlets — criticized for failing to fully cover the MAHA report’s substance and for echoing industry-aligned narratives. • Science communicators and influencers — some may be offended by the suggestion that their platforms are captured or superficial. • Fact-checking organizations — Kennedy implies that many are biased or captured by corporate funders. Science & Public Trust • Scientists involved in consensus-driven messaging — may be bothered by RFK’s call to “do your own research,” especially given its association with misinformation. • AI companies (like OpenAI, indirectly) — because the citation scandal invoked concerns about AI-generated “research” slipping into policy reports without proper vetting. Parents, Activists, & Advocacy Groups • Pro-vaccine parent groups — may be enraged by RFK’s framing of vaccine injury and distrust. • Autism and disability advocacy groups — some may be divided, as Kennedy has historically tied vaccines to autism, which many groups see as damaging and unfounded. • Progressive public health advocates — may agree with critiques of food and corporate influence, but reject the anti-vaccine narra- tives and pseudoscientific elements. • Conservative medical freedom groups — while they may embrace parts of the report, they may also be suspicious of federal power behind MAHA if it veers into behavioral regulation or nutrition mandates. This report will not fix what is broken, but maybe now we listen — to the uncomfortable numbers, to the parents who say “some- thing is wrong,” and to the possibility that prevention, not profit, should shape the next chapter of American health. And maybe, just maybe, we, as a nation tired of being sick at the hands of corporate interests, rise up and demand something long overdue: that it be considered an ethical violation for lobbying dollars to flow to politicians or their campaigns, just as it would be for a state health depart- ment employee to accept a gift of monetary value. This report reminds us that we should be living longer and healthier. Other countries are. How can we say we are great again if we have so many unhealthy people? Now, we can study this for two decades “scientifically” as was suggested to me by a respected source, then draw a “scientific conclusion,” which we all know is going to come down to good food, affordable food, exercise, limiting exposure to toxic chemicals, and, yes, putting down our phones. If we, as a society and state, do this now, you will have fewer patients — but more time to care for those with unavoidable illnesses. Let’s not let common sense be called a “nanny state” by those in real power. Our schools, Walmart, and McDonald’s could change the health of the U.S. almost instantly if they would offer delicious, organic, whole food that is reasonably priced, and get rid of the empty calories. This isn’t rocket science, but it will take effort from you, our leaders, and a cultural change. I was talking with a friend whose friend lost a lot of weight on Ozempic. She was amazed — he no longer needed blood pressure, cholesterol, or diabetes meds. She called it a “miracle drug” and said she wanted to use it to lose the 10 pounds she’s been struggling with. I told her, “So he changed how much and what he eats, and he’s exercising more? That’s no miracle. That’s Big Pharma taking advantage of our crappy food system.” Our pitch: Pause the reflex to tear this report down. Instead, read it. Ask tough questions. Don’t just think about medicine or the healthcare system — think about health. Make notes on solutions in our state and share them with us. Because if we don’t root out the causes, we’ll keep treating symptoms while another generation of kids gets sicker than we are. This is our time in leadership. Let’s create a better world here. And when we are told we can’t — as Deep Throat said, “Follow the money.” We look forward to your comments: Editor@HealthcareJournalNO.com .