"Is It Safe to Take Tylenol During Pregnancy?"...Autism Controversy Revives Legal Battles in the U.S.

Acetaminophen, a Common Pain Reliever
Legal Battle Rekindled Over Possible Link to Autism

Amid ongoing controversy over whether taking acetaminophen, a common pain reliever, during pregnancy may cause autism, litigation on this issue is expected to intensify again in the United States.

Dismissal Overturned in First Instance...Possibility of Resuming Over 500 Lawsuits

According to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on July 13 (local time), the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York has sent back lawsuits that had been dismissed in the first instance due to insufficient evidence, ordering the lower court to reconsider the cases.

Previously, families who claimed that their children were diagnosed with autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) after the mothers took Tylenol during pregnancy filed lawsuits against Kenvue, the seller of Tylenol. The first-instance court dismissed the lawsuits, stating there was a lack of reliable scientific evidence supporting the plaintiffs' claims. The court mainly cited that the reports by experts, including Andrea Bacarelli, Dean of the Harvard School of Public Health, were unreliable because they selectively presented only favorable findings.

However, the appellate court pointed out that excluding medical experts requested by the plaintiffs from testifying was an overreach of authority and an error. According to WSJ, the appellate decision means that more than 500 lawsuits related to claims that acetaminophen caused autism or ADHD may resume in court.

Despite the Controversy..."Insufficient Evidence of Causality," Studies Say

Previously, The Trump Administration warned about the potential risk of acetaminophen, the main ingredient in Tylenol, causing autism, citing Bacarelli's research results. Because acetaminophen has long been considered one of the very few fever and pain relievers safe for use by pregnant women, these claims about a link to autism births from The Trump Administration sparked major debate within the health and medical communities.

However, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Union (EU) both countered that the claims made by President Trump had no scientific basis. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also acknowledged that no causal relationship had been established between acetaminophen use and giving birth to children with autism. In addition, medical organizations such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine have also maintained that acetaminophen use during pregnancy remains safe.

Meanwhile, a recent study also found no connection between Tylenol use during pregnancy and an increased risk of autism. A research team led by Professor Asma Khalil at St. George's, University of London published related findings in the medical journal 'The Lancet: Obstetrics & Gynecology' this past January. At the time, Professor Khalil explained, "The use of Tylenol during pregnancy is safe," and added, "When used as recommended, the best available evidence does not support a causal relationship with autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.