Kennedy, a prime well being official, urges ‘cautious strategy’ after Trump baselessly claimed taking Tylenol is linked autism in kids.
United States Well being and Human Providers Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr has partially walked again his warning that taking Tylenol throughout being pregnant is straight linked to autism in kids.
In a information convention on Wednesday, Kennedy struck a extra average tone than he typically has in his previous public appearances.
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“The causative affiliation between Tylenol given in being pregnant and the perinatal durations just isn’t enough to say it positively causes autism,” Kennedy advised reporters. “However it’s very suggestive.”
“There needs to be a cautious strategy to it,” he added. “ That’s why our message to sufferers, to moms, to people who find themselves pregnant and to the moms of younger kids is: Seek the advice of your doctor.”
Wednesday’s assertion is nearer in keeping with the steering of reputable health agencies.
Whereas some research have raised the potential for a hyperlink between Tylenol and autism, there have been no conclusive findings. Pregnant ladies are suggested to seek the advice of a physician earlier than taking the treatment.
The World Well being Group reiterated the purpose in September, noting that “no constant affiliation has been established” between the treatment and autism, regardless of “intensive analysis”.
However claims on the contrary have already prompted efforts to restrict the provision of Tylenol, a well-liked model of acetaminophen, a fever- and pain-reducing treatment.
On Tuesday, Texas Lawyer Normal Ken Paxton launched a lawsuit accusing Johnson & Johnson and Kenvue, the businesses behind the over-the-counter ache reliever, of misleading practices.
In doing so, he reiterated misinformation shared by President Donald Trump and authorities officers like Kennedy.
“By holding Huge Pharma accountable for poisoning our folks, we’ll assist Make America Wholesome Once more,” Paxton mentioned in an announcement, giving a nod to Kennedy’s MAHA slogan.
The go well with alleges that Johnson & Johnson and Kenvue violated Texas client safety legal guidelines by having “deceptively marketed Tylenol as the one secure painkiller for pregnant ladies”.
It was the newest occasion of scientific misinformation being perpetuated by prime officers. Each Trump and Kennedy have repeatedly unfold scientific misinformation all through their political careers.
Trump linked autism and the painkiller throughout a information convention in September, with out offering respected scientific findings to again the declare.
“[Using] acetaminophen – is that OK? – which is principally, generally referred to as Tylenol, throughout being pregnant will be related to a really elevated danger of autism,” Trump mentioned on September 22. “So taking Tylenol just isn’t good. I’ll say it. It’s not good.”
Kennedy has supplied his personal sweeping statements about Tylenol and its alleged dangers, regardless of having no skilled medical background.
“Anybody who takes these things throughout being pregnant, until they should, is irresponsible,” he mentioned in a cupboard assembly on October 9.
Kennedy additionally mischaracterised research on male circumcision earlier this month. He falsely mentioned the research confirmed a rise in autism amongst kids who have been “circumcised early”.
“It’s extremely seemingly as a result of they’re given Tylenol,” he added.
Kenvue burdened in an announcement on Tuesday that acetaminophen is the most secure ache reliever choice for pregnant ladies, noting that prime fevers and ache are potential dangers to pregnancies if left untreated.
“We stand firmly with the worldwide medical group that acknowledges the security of acetaminophen and imagine we’ll proceed to achieve success in litigation as these claims lack authorized advantage and scientific assist,” Kenvue mentioned.
