US President Donald Trump held a press conference yesterday to announce what he called “one of the biggest announcements, really medically, I think, in the history of our country”. As expected, Trump announced he had, essentially, found the “cure” for autism.
Trump cures autism, apparently
As the Canary anticipated yesterday, the Trump administration, flanked by noted scientists Robert F “Brainworms” Kennedy and TVs Dr Mehmet Oz, announced that Tylenol (or paracetamol as it’s known in the UK) taken by mothers in early pregnancy caused autism, apparently. Trump said expectant mothers should not take Tylenol, as the active ingredient acetaminophen has apparently been shown in research to have links with autism.
It’s worth noting that Tylenol or paracetamol is the only painkiller many pregnant women are advised to take, so this would leave them with no pain relief. However, it’s okay as Trump’s alternative is to “not take it”.
Trump also said:
They are strongly recommending that women limit Tylenol use during pregnancy unless medically necessary, if you can’t tough it out
This comment alone showed Trump’s disregard for pregnant women, suggesting they should just “tough out” debilitating back pain, cramps, headaches, and everything else that comes with pregnancy. This announcement won’t do anything to help autistic people, but it will demonise pregnant women further – cos you can guarantee those who miscarry or deliver still-born children will be asked if they took Tylenol.
Tylenol makers are furious, obviously
However, the Trump administration’s wild claims are already being debunked, with the makers of Tylenol sounding furious. Kenvue, the company that makes Tylenol, strongly disputed the White House’s claims in a statement:
Acetaminophen is the safest pain reliever option for pregnant women as needed throughout their entire pregnancy.
It continued:
We believe independent, sound science clearly shows that taking acetaminophen does not cause autism. We strongly disagree with any suggestion otherwise and are deeply concerned with the health risk this poses for expecting mothers.
White House clowns showing themselves up
Meanwhile, the White House itself and the clowns they’ve put in charge of health services are inadvertently ratting themselves out too.
On Fox News after the announcement on Monday night, Dr Oz, who is the administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, directed viewers towards a statement from the dean of the Harvard School of Public Health, Andrea Baccarelli, that was included in the announcement as proof that there was a link between autism and Tylenol.
It’s worth noting here that the “cure” that’s being touted is vitamin B9 – and funnily enough, Dr Oz owns a supplements company.
Also on Fox News, FDA Commissioner Dr Marty Makary said:
Based on the overwhelming body of evidence, there was a causal relationship
He reiterated:
Those are the exact words of the dean of the Harvard School of Public Health.
Those two bozos are technically right, as Baccarelli did say:
We found evidence of an association between exposure to acetaminophen during pregnancy and increased incidence of neurodevelopmental disorders in children
However, that’s not all he said. Talking about animal studies (not humans), the professor said the research “supports the possibility of a causal relationship,” but that “further research is needed to confirm the association and determine causality.”
White House twisting words and making fools of themselves
Despite the White House trying to make it sound the same, there is a difference in something being “linked to” or “associated with” and actually causing it; correlation is not the same as causation. Something can happen alongside something else being done; in this case, there may be some children who have autism, and their mothers may’ve taken Tylenol while pregnant. However, it’s more difficult to prove that one thing happened because the first thing did. For example, there is nothing to prove that the mothers taking Tylenol is the reason the children have autism.
He also heavily warned about stopping pregnant women from taking Tylenol:
At the same time, as the only approved medication for pain and fever reduction during pregnancy, acetaminophen remains an important tool for pregnant patients and their physicians.
Most ridiculously, the statement was only shared by Trump’s press secretary Karoline Leavitt as an attempt to gotcha a journalist who rightly pointed out that there were unproven ties between Tylenol use and autism, as she called the AP’s headline “Just plain old false”
Except, of course, it’s just plain old true.
Trump forgets one thing in his autism announcement
However, the one thing that Trump, his advisors, or staff forgot to mention in the autism announcements was the largest study on autism, which was funded by the US Government, found no links to Tylenol and autism.
Funny that.
Featured image via the Canary
