What's less visible is how those priorities are formed, and how the balance between child health, industry interests, and parental authority is struck.

Over the past several decades, the health landscape for children has shifted dramatically, with chronic illness becoming far more common. Yet the way the AAP addresses these changes reveals as much about its focus as it does about what it leaves out. By examining what the organization elevates — and what it avoids — it becomes clear how policy direction affects the day-to-day decisions parents face.

This isn't just about medical recommendations; it's about the framework that decides whether prevention, treatment, or industry-driven measures take center stage. The details of the AAP's own published priorities show where the balance tips, and why the very first item on their list directly impacts your ability to make informed choices for your child.

AAP's Priorities Reveal a Profound Shift Away from Parental Rights

The AAP is structured to prioritize its members' income over children's well-being, according to David Bell, senior scholar at Brownstone Institute and a former medical officer and scientist at the World Health Organization (WHO).1 The published article by the Brownstone Institute outlines how the AAP's top priority is to remove parents from decision-making about whether their children receive certain medical procedures, especially vaccinations.

With 67,000 members in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, the AAP's influence is enormous. Its funding from pharmaceutical companies like Moderna, Merck, Sanofi, and GlaxoSmithKline creates a direct financial link between the organization's policy positions and industry profit.