Former president Barack Obama has hit back at Donald Trump after the Republican leader announced that taking Tylenol while pregnant may be associated with a 'very increased risk of autism'.
Trump sparked controversy with his announcement on Monday (22 September), when he declared: "They are strongly recommending that women limit Tylenol use during pregnancy unless medically necessary."
The president also urged pregnant women to 'tough it out' rather than taking Tylenol - despite the World Health Organization stressing that there is 'currently no conclusive scientific evidence confirming a possible link between autism and use of acetaminophen', which is the non-branded name for the drug sold as Tylenol.
In a statement responding to Trump's announcement, the WHO added: "Globally, nearly 62 million people (1 in 127) have autism spectrum disorder, a diverse group of conditions related to development of the brain. Although awareness and diagnosis have improved in recent years, the exact causes of autism have not been established, and it is understood there are multiple factors that can be involved."
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As questions and concerns surrounding Tylenol continue to emerge following Trump's announcement, Obama has now reacted to the matter in a sit-down with historian David Olusoga in London.
Obama made a clear reference to the Tylenol claims as he said: “We have the spectacle of my successor in the Oval Office making broad claims around certain drugs and autism that have been continuously disproved.
"The degree to which that undermines public health, the degree to which that can do harm to women who are pregnant, the degree to which that creates anxiety for parents who do have children who are autistic which, by the way, itself is subject to a spectrum and a lot of what is being trumpeted as these massive increases actually have to do with a broadening of criteria across that spectrum so that people can actually get services and help...
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"All of that is violence against the truth.”
In its own statement responding to Trump's announcement, Tylenol assured it is 'one of the most studied medications in history'.
It added it is 'safe when used as directed by expecting mothers, infants and children'.
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"The facts remain unchanged: over a decade of rigorous research, endorsed by leading medical professionals, confirm there is no credible evidence linking acetaminophen to autism," the statement continues.
"Acetaminophen is used worldwide as a first line of defense for pain relief and fever reduction, at the recommendation of independent public health and leading medical professionals and in accordance with the product label.
"High fevers and pain are widely recognized as potential risks to a pregnancy if left untreated, especially in the first trimester. Remember to talk to your doctor.
"We prioritize science as the core of how we provide care, and that will never change."
Topics: Donald Trump, Barack Obama, Health, Politics
Emily Brown