Sacramento County resident warns board about RFK Jr's autism registry proposal

A concerned resident of Sacramento County raised alarm during a recent Board of Supervisors meeting about a proposed disease registry aimed at tracking autistic individuals. The resident, who identifies as autistic, expressed fears that the registry could violate privacy laws and potentially lead to dangerous outcomes reminiscent of historical atrocities.

The discussion centered around plans by RFK Jr. and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to collect extensive data on autistic individuals, including Medicare medication records, lab testing results, and even data from fitness trackers. The resident highlighted significant concerns from the autistic community regarding the implications of such a registry, suggesting it could be misused by the federal government to target vulnerable populations.

"This registry could be used in the future to help the federal government hunt down autistic people and send them off to camps like they did in Nazi Germany," the resident warned, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. They called on the Board of Supervisors to take action to protect the civil rights and safety of autistic and disabled individuals.

In response, Board members acknowledged the gravity of the concerns raised and expressed a willingness to engage further on the issue. The resident was invited to meet with staff to discuss potential actions the county could take to safeguard the rights of disabled residents.

This meeting underscores a growing tension between public health initiatives and the rights of individuals, particularly within marginalized communities. As discussions continue, the Board of Supervisors faces the challenge of balancing health data collection with the imperative to protect civil liberties.