Ignore Trump claims on paracetamol and autism, Streeting tells pregnant women
Streeting ‘trusts doctors over Trump’ amid paracetamol claims
- The UK Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, urged pregnant women to disregard claims by Donald Trump linking paracetamol use in pregnancy to autism.
- Mr Streeting emphasised trusting doctors and the NHS over the US president, stating there is no evidence to support such a connection.
- He cited a major 2024 Swedish study involving 2.4 million children that found no link between paracetamol and autism.
- Scientists globally condemned Donald Trump's claims as unsubstantiated “fearmongering”, warning it could prevent women from accessing appropriate pain relief and stigmatise families.
- While a recent Harvard/Mount Sinai study suggested a potential link between paracetamol exposure and neurodevelopmental disorders, it also highlighted the drug's importance for treating maternal fever and pain.