By Nicole Weatherholtz | Thursday, May 14, 2026
Cleveland Clinic has denied reports that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. operated robotic surgical equipment during a recent visit to the hospital, clarifying that he only observed a procedure using a disconnected teaching console incapable of performing any surgical functions.
The clinic stated Kennedy “briefly observed a robotic heart surgery as part of a broader tour” and “played no role in the patient’s care.” This clarification followed an initial report suggesting Kennedy tested the console with a live patient undergoing heart surgery. Cleveland Clinic later confirmed the console was disconnected and non-functional, emphasizing that surgeons continued operating throughout the visit.
Dr. Ian Fields, a urogynecologist, described the situation as a “horrifying and grotesque violation of HIPAA,” referring to federal patient privacy protections. The clinic also noted no photographs or videos were taken in the operating room during Kennedy’s presence.
Surgeon Dr. Vamsi Aribindi explained that operating the da Vinci Surgical System requires an instrument swap, meaning Kennedy could not have controlled robotic instruments without a formal transfer of control from the surgeon.
Kennedy’s visit to Cleveland Clinic was part of his “Take Back Your Health” tour promoting the administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” agenda. During this trip, he also met with healthcare executives and visited other facilities.
