Paracetamol in Pregnancy: Uncertain Evidence, Certain Consequences.
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 42135262.
- Also identified by DOI 10.5694/mja2.70203 and PMC identifier 13175944.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
Autism diagnoses have increased over the past decade, prompting debate on potential causes. In September 2025, US President Donald Trump claimed that paracetamol is a 'big factor' in autism, citing a systematic review based solely on observational studies. The review's selective reporting, methodological flaws (including applying an environmental health rather than evidence-based medicine framework) and lack of causal evidence provided weak justifications for its conclusions and have fuelled public confusion about paracetamol safety in pregnancy. This article critically appraises the review and examines how scientific uncertainty can be manipulated and amplified within broader public health domains.
Medical subject headings
- Acetaminophen
- Analgesics, Non-Narcotic
- Autistic Disorder
- Pregnancy Complications