UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – UK health experts slam President Trump administration’s paracetamol-autism claims, saying it spreads fear and misleads pregnant women about safe pain relief.
As reported by The Independent, UK health experts have condemned reports that Trump officials will link prenatal paracetamol use to autism, calling the warnings “fearmongering.”
Researchers hit back, calling the claim
“risks stigmatising families who have autistic children as having brought it on themselves.”
NHS’ stance on paracetamol use during pregnancy
Referring to the use of paracetamol in pregnancy, the NHS said,
“Paracetamol is the first choice of painkiller if you’re pregnant. It’s commonly taken during pregnancy and does not harm your baby.”
What did Dr Monique Botha say about paracetamol and autism risk?
Dr Monique Botha, associate professor in social and developmental psychology at Durham University, stated,
“There are many studies which refute a link, but the most important was a Swedish study of 2.4 million births published in 2024 which used actual sibling data and found no relationship between exposure to paracetamol in utero and subsequent autism, ADHD or intellectual disability.”
She said,
“This suggests no causal effect of paracetamol in autism. There is no robust evidence or convincing studies to suggest there is any causal relationship and any conclusions being drawn to the contrary are often motivated, under-evidenced, and unsupported by the most robust methods to answering this question.”
Dr Botha said,
“I am exceptionally confident in saying that no relationship exists. Similarly, pain relief for pregnant women is woefully lacking and paracetamol is a much safer pain relief option during pregnancy than basically any other alternative and we need to take pain seriously for women, including whilst pregnant.”
She added,
“The fearmongering will prevent women from accessing the appropriate care during pregnancy. Further, it risks stigmatising families who have autistic children as having brought it on themselves and reinvigorates the long pattern of maternal shame and blame as we’ve seen re-emerge repeatedly over the last 70 years where we try to pay the fault of autism at the mother’s door one way or another.”
What did Dimitrios Siassakos say about the causes of autism?
Dimitrios Siassakos, professor in obstetrics and gynaecology at University College London and honorary consultant in obstetrics at University College London Hospital, stated,
“Autism results from several factors, often combined, particularly genetic predisposition, and sometimes low oxygen at the time of birth as a result of complications.”
He said,
“Research has shown that any apparent marginal increase as a result of paracetamol/acetaminophen use in pregnancy tends to disappear when the analyses take into account the factors that matter most.”
Mr Siassakos added,
“For example, in studies looking at siblings, any association disappeared – it was the family history that mattered and not the use of paracetamol. Undue focus on paracetamol would risk preventing families from using one of the safest medications to use in pregnancy when needed.”
What did Robert F. Kennedy Jr say about an autism “epidemic” in the US?
US health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr claimed the country faces an “autism epidemic” caused by “environmental toxins,” offering no evidence to support the claim.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Mr Kennedy could claim Tylenol, called paracetamol in the UK, may cause autism.
He has spent decades circulating false claims about vaccines. As the country’s top health official, he has linked MMR shots to autism.
What did Donald Trump say about leucovorin and autism treatment?
The US president called a new drug “amazing,” claiming it could offer autism treatment. His administration suggested leucovorin, normally a cancer drug, could be an “answer” for autism.
Recent studies suggest leucovorin may boost speech and social skills in children with autism.
At Charlie Kirk’s memorial, Mr Trump told the crowd that,
“Tomorrow we’re going to have one of the biggest announcement[s] … medically, I think, in the history of our country.”
He added,
“I think you’re going to find it to be amazing. I think we found an answer to autism.”
Key facts about the use of paracetamol
Paracetamol relieves pain, reduces fever, and is safe in pregnancy. It is found in many cold/flu remedies,
The maximum dosage is 4 g per day, and exceeding it can cause liver damage. It may also interact with other drugs, including blood thinners.