John Sarmiento MD, Pediatrician

09/07/2025

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Health and Human Services Secretary, has suggested that his department may release a report claiming a possible link between Tylenol (acetaminophen) use during pregnancy and autism in children.

Unfortunately, RFK continues to publicize medical falsehoods and misleading advice that contradict medical experts and evidence-based-medicine. I'm trying to set the record straight:

Medical experts and major health organizations strongly caution that no causal link between acetaminophen and autism has been proven. While some studies show associations, many others—including a large 2024 Swedish study of over 2.4 million children—found no evidence of increased risk for autism or ADHD. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists continues to consider acetaminophen safe for use during pregnancy when taken appropriately.

You can find almost any "study" on the internet to support your views (speaking to you RFK), but it takes experience in epidemiology and statistics, as well as an unbiased approach to determine if a study is statistically and clinically significant among the universe of publications in academia and on the interwebs. The attached link is a more thoughtful analysis that finally concludes: "Based on existing data, there is not sufficient evidence to support a link between Tylenol and autism."

(September 5, 2025, 4:00 pm ET) This afternoon, The Wall Street Journal reported that HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. will announce later this month that Tylenol has been identified as a cause of autism, and that a medicine derived from folate can be used to treat symptoms in some people. Any a...

08/28/2025

From the AAP: “Today’s proposed decision by HHS to limit the availability of the COVID-19 vaccine for children and teens is deeply troubling as we enter a new respiratory virus season. It creates a dangerous vulnerability for children, especially those whose airways and lungs are small and still developing.

The AAP recommends the COVID-19 vaccine for all children ages 6 months through 23 months and any parent who wants their child vaccinated should have access to this vaccine. We’re urging the Administration to allow these choices to remain with pediatricians and parents. Read our full statement from Dr. Susan J. Kressly, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, at the link below: “
https://bit.ly/4mXnvaQ

08/20/2025

Unfortunately, the leading cause of medical misinformation in the world today is Robert F Kennedy Jr, the head of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. When the AAP statement (below) is referring to misinformation about immunizations, it is RFK Jr who is the most influential fearmonger of all.

From the AAP: “American Academy of Pediatrics has released our annual update to our immunization recommendations to best help children and adolescents build immunity and stay healthy.

Since our founding in the 1930s, the AAP has been creating evidence-based vaccine recommendations that are rooted in the latest science and our deep clinical knowledge about children’s health.

With misinformation about immunizations spreading, AAP is publishing our own, independent vaccine recommendations, including updated recommendations for RSV, influenza, and COVID-19. Read our full policy statement to learn about AAP's updated immunization schedule. “

Schedule includes updated AAP recommendations for vaccines for fall respiratory viruses

08/20/2025

06/27/2025

02/27/2025

An unvaccinated school-age child has died from measles in West Texas, according to Texas health officials. AAP President Susan Kressly said, “As a pediatrician, I am heartbroken to learn that a child has died from measles. This is a tragic and devastating loss, and our thoughts are with the family and community affected. One death from a preventable disease is one too many.” The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine protects children from serious illness. However, when immunization rates drop in a community, measles can spread and put children at risk.

“No parent should have to experience the loss of a child to a preventable disease. Vaccines save lives. Pediatricians are here to talk with families about their child's health, including how they can access vaccines. We must support immunization programs so that children in every community get the opportunity to grow up healthy and strong,” said Dr. Kressly. Read AAP's full statement: https://www.aap.org/en/news-room/news-releases/pediatrics2/2025/statement-from-aap-president-on-first-measles-death-in-texas/

02/16/2025

This is disturbing to say the least: our government is replacing the reality of science and biology with outright falsehood. Today I took this screenshot of a page on the CDC website. It is a political disclaimer that rejects the real world by claiming that it is “immutable biological reality that there are two sexes, male and female.” The disclaimer goes on to say that it the CDC Contraceptive Guidance for Healthcare Providers does not reflect biological reality. Never in my life did I expect to see such Orwellian interference in my daily work.

The reality is there are biologically intersex individuals in this world who…

… were born with ge****ls that have features of both male and female (congenital adrenal hyperplasia)

… or whose ge****ls appear female or ambiguous in early childhood but experience male pubertal changes including the development of a p***s (5-alpha reductase deficiency)

… or individuals who outwardly appear female, but have XY (male) chromosomes and lack a uterus, and have abdominal testicles instead of ovaries

… or other individuals with both ovarian and testicular tissue (hermaphroditism)

… and don’t you know someone who identifies as le***an, gay, bisexual, transgender, q***r, intersex, asexual, or other identities (LGBTQIA+)?

The current administration denies the existence of these people, some of whom are our co-workers, friends and family. It is an attempt to ignore them, or worse, erase them.

I believe that we all have a right to our political beliefs and identities but this is too far, way too far over the line.

12/26/2024

🎄🎁 Merry Christmas from the Sarmiento family! 🎁🎄

08/15/2024

As the Olympics wrap up, it is important to put sport - especially for our kids - into perspective. Yes, it is about wanting that gold (or that win, or that championship) - wanting it BUT not needing it to feel self-worth. This is such an eloquent athlete interview… ⬇️

06/01/2024

Eating meals at home together as a family is important for both parents and children. This JAMA Pediatrics Patient Page describes the benefits of eating family meals together at home. https://ja.ma/4bpQEWU

05/25/2024

👍🏼

Most viewed in the last 7 days from JAMA Pediatrics: This JAMA Pediatrics Patient Page describes peanut allergy guidelines and the importance of giving peanut protein to young children to prevent development of an allergy.

https://ja.ma/3wOo7uY

02/28/2024

This is where I went to medical school! At first I was intimidated and a bit scared at the thought of spending four years in the Bronx, but I look back on my time there as an honor and a privilege. From now on all medical students attending the Albert Einstein College of medicine will not have to pay any tuition (which was $60,000 per year), thanks to the unprecedented generosity of Dr. Ruth Gottesman. When I saw the video of students reacting in real time to the announcement, I got chills. So happy for these soon-to-be doctors!

Ruth Gottesman, a longtime professor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, is making free tuition available to all students going forward.