RIDOH Cites Experts in Response to White House Announcement on Tylenol

RIDOH Cites Experts in Response to White House Announcement on Tylenol

On Monday, the Trump administration stated that the use of Tylenol during pregnancy may be linked to an increased risk of autism.

President Donald Trump repeatedly said, “Do not take it.”

In the press conference at the White House, Trump said the Food and Drug Administration will begin notifying physicians immediately that it is "strongly recommending that women limit Tylenol use during pregnancy unless medically necessary."

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Rhode Island Department of Health spokesman Joseph Wendelken said the issue is complex, and leading experts disagree with the White House.

‘We are still reviewing this announcement. However, I will say that autism is complex, and there has been no evidence of a single cause in the decades it has been researched,” said Wendelken.

"The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists states that Tylenol is a safe and trusted medication option for pregnant women. There are few safe medication options for the treatment of fever and pain during pregnancy. Untreated fever and pain during pregnancy could be harmful to the pregnant woman and the fetus,” Wendelken added.

Steven J. Fleischman, MD, MBA, FACOG, president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) issued the following statement:

Suggestions that acetaminophen use in pregnancy causes autism are not only highly concerning to clinicians but also irresponsible when considering the harmful and confusing message they send to pregnant patients, including those who may need to rely on this beneficial medicine during pregnancy.

Today’s announcement by HHS is not backed by the full body of scientific evidence and dangerously simplifies the many and complex causes of neurologic challenges in children. It is highly unsettling that our federal health agencies are willing to make an announcement that will affect the health and well-being of millions of people without the backing of reliable data. READ MORE

 

White House Statement

The White House posted the following statement late on Monday afternoon: "Today, President Donald J. Trump joined Administration officials to announce major progress in understanding the root causes of autism, which has exploded in diagnoses over the past two decades, and unveil bold new initiatives to tackle the autism epidemic.

Predictably, the Fake News immediately went into frenzied hyperventilation with their usual smears, distortions, and lies."

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