Trump’s Warning on Tylenol Sparks Medical Backlash
In recent days, President Donald Trump has made headlines by urging pregnant women to avoid Tylenol, also known globally as paracetamol, citing unproven links to autism and ADHD in children. His remarks were delivered during a White House press conference, where he told expectant mothers to “fight like hell not to take it.” The statement came just as U.S. regulators announced plans to add a cautionary label about potential risks, though they stopped short of confirming any causal connection.
What followed was swift and intense criticism from the medical community. Doctors and professional associations like the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology quickly labeled the claims as irresponsible. For decades, paracetamol has been recommended as one of the few safe pain relief options for women during pregnancy. In fact, it is estimated that about half of all pregnant women worldwide use the medication to relieve discomfort or to lower fevers, which themselves can be dangerous if left untreated during pregnancy.
Also Read:- Kelvin Sheppard’s Rise as Detroit Lions Defensive Coordinator
- Super Typhoon Ragasa Grounds Flights and Forces Evacuations
Trump’s comments did not stop at painkillers. He also raised doubts about standard vaccine practices, suggesting that the widely used measles, mumps, and rubella shot should be split into separate doses, despite the absence of scientific support for that idea. His health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., stood alongside him and pushed for further investigations into autism, linking the condition to environmental toxins and hinting at vaccines as a possible factor. He even spoke of potential treatments such as leucovorin, a drug typically prescribed for cancer patients, as a possible breakthrough for autism — again, with little scientific backing.
The reaction from experts was sharp. Researchers pointed to a major Swedish study from 2024 that examined over two million births and found no evidence linking prenatal acetaminophen exposure to autism, ADHD, or intellectual disabilities. Scientists in both the U.S. and the U.K. dismissed the president’s remarks as fearmongering that could cause unnecessary alarm and prevent pregnant women from accessing safe care. Alison Singer, president of the Autism Science Foundation, said that the claims were “not scientifically based” and misleading for families who deserve accurate information.
Bioethicist Arthur Caplan of NYU warned that the administration’s approach risked eroding public trust in science and medicine. Other experts emphasized that autism does not have a single known cause but is believed to result from a complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors. The danger, they said, lies in presenting premature or exaggerated conclusions as fact.
In the end, while the Food and Drug Administration acknowledged that some studies suggest a possible correlation, it also stressed that no proven causal link exists, and it reminded the public that acetaminophen remains the only over-the-counter medication approved for treating fevers during pregnancy. For now, mainstream medical advice continues to recommend paracetamol as safe when used responsibly.
Trump’s remarks, however, have added fuel to long-running debates over autism, vaccines, and public health messaging — debates that many experts fear could deepen mistrust in science at a time when clear, evidence-based guidance is needed most.
Read More:
0 Comments