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FDA deletes warning on bogus autism therapies touted by RFK Jr.β€˜s allies

By: Beth Mole

For years, the Food and Drug Administration provided an informational webpage for parents warning them of the dangers of bogus autism treatments, some promoted by anti-vaccine activists and "wellness" companies. The page cited specifics scams and the "significant health risks" they pose.

But, under anti-vaccine Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.β€”who has numerous ties to the wellness industryβ€”that FDA information webpage is now gone. It was quietly deleted at the end of last year, the Department of Health and Human Services confirmed to Ars Technica.

The defunct webpage, titled "Be Aware of Potentially Dangerous Products and Therapies that Claim to Treat Autism," provided parents and other consumers with an overview of the problem. It began with a short description of autism and some evidence-based, FDA-approved medications that can help manage autism symptoms. Then, the regulatory agency provided a list of some false claims and unproven, potentially dangerous treatments it had been working to combat. "Some of these so-called therapies carry significant health risks," the FDA wrote.

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Β© Getty | Alex Wong

AI starts autonomously writing prescription refills in Utah

By: Beth Mole

The state of Utah is allowing artificial intelligence to prescribe medication refills to patients without direct human oversight in a pilot program public advocates call "dangerous."

The program is through the state's "regulatory sandbox" framework, which allows businesses to trial "innovative" products or services with state regulations temporarily waived. The Utah Department of Commerce partnered with Doctronic, a telehealth startup with an AI chatbot.

Doctronic offers a nationwide service that allows patients to chat with its "AI doctor" for free, then, for $39, book a virtual appointment with a real doctor licensed in their state. But patients must go through the AI chatbot first to get an appointment.

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Β© Getty | Roberto Machado Noa

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