A “gold-standard” study has rejected claims by the Trump administration advising pregnant women to avoid paracetamol, finding no evidence that the drug increases the risk of autism or other neurodevelopmental disorders.
In September last year, Donald Trump and his Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. urged expectant mothers to stop using paracetamol, known as Tylenol in the US, alleging a link to autism in children. However, a comprehensive evidence review published in The Lancet found no association between paracetamol use during pregnancy and autism, ADHD or intellectual disability.
The systematic review analysed data from 43 studies and concluded that earlier claims were often based on research prone to bias. Gynaecologist and University of Melbourne senior lecturer Dr Joseph Sgroi said paracetamol is safe when used as directed.
He noted that untreated pain and high maternal fever can pose real risks during pregnancy, including miscarriage, preterm birth and congenital abnormalities. Avoiding paracetamol out of fear, he said, is not supported by evidence and may endanger both mother and baby.
The Lancet review reaffirmed that current medical guidelines support the responsible use of paracetamol, while Trump’s remarks were widely criticised by doctors and scientists worldwide for lacking scientific backing.
