Dr. Millie LaFontaine is a retired physician who lives in Concord.

At the time I write this, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s confirmation hearing as Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) has not yet occurred. By the time this is printed, his hearing may well be over, and his confirmation may be in the history books — or not.

As a retired medical professional, it is deeply distressing to me that someone who is so uniquely unqualified for this important position has been nominated and might actually be approved by a majority of our Senators. Here is a man who, despite his well-known family, has no relevant experience in administration. Or healthcare. Or human services.

In addition to his lack of administrative experience, RFK Jr. has famously spread conspiracy theories and lies about vaccines, resulting in a growing public distrust of the expertise of scientists, health professionals and public health officials. When the pandemic raged around us, he favored ineffective and dangerous treatments for COVID-19 despite clear evidence that it was vaccines — not the treatments he endorsed — that were safe and effective in combating the illness. Over a million people died in this country before vaccines became available. Since then, COVID vaccines have saved almost a million lives in the U.S. alone.

RFK Jr. has not only spread disinformation about treatments for COVID-19 but he has also disputed a number of other established medical findings. He has revived the false claim that childhood vaccines are a cause of autism long after that possibility was thoroughly debunked. In addition, he has cast doubt on the settled issues of the necessity of childhood vaccines, the association of HIV and AIDS, the efficacy of water fluoridation and other public health measures which, as the head of HHS, he would be responsible for overseeing.

While his ideas on some matters might be correct — his concerns about the unhealthy contribution of ultraprocessed foods to the American diet, for instance — he has yet to explain how he plans to intervene in that. How does he think he is going to enforce dietary restrictions for the American public when we all believe in freedom to choose what we eat? How will he enforce these restrictions when big corporations, including food manufacturers, are considered persons under the law and can make their own choices in a deregulated economy, too?

His views on vaccines would suggest to me that he shouldn’t speak out of both sides of his mouth when talking about our personal rights. His arguments on vaccines imply that, whether we have reliable information or not, we have a “right” to make our own decisions about public health, even when our choices endanger many others besides ourselves. Why would he backtrack on that principle when those personal choices, like what we eat, affect no one but ourselves?

RFK Jr. is just one of a number of cabinet nominees whose resumes suggest they are unprepared for their job. Several have red flags pointing to the fact that their appointments are dangerous. What is their chief qualification? Each of them will blindly do the bidding of the man who appointed them.

Not only is our once and future king-president conspiring with his yes-men to amass power, wealth and fame for himself. He will be admitting to the American people that he is unconcerned about their health and welfare. With RFK Jr.’s appointment, President Trump will be installing someone who is unfit for the job and willing to place our wellbeing in jeopardy.