SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – Autism advocates and Australian doctors have fiercely criticised US President Donald Trump for suggesting that paracetamol, a common painkiller, causes autism in children. The controversy erupted after Trump made the claim during a White House address on Monday, prompting an advisory urging pregnant women to avoid the medication, despite a lack of scientific backing. The statement has sparked outrage Down Under, with experts calling it “medical nonsense.”
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) has strongly refuted the link, aligning with global health bodies like the World Health Organization (WHO). Recent studies, including a 2024 analysis in JAMA, found no consistent association between paracetamol use during pregnancy and autism or ADHD when accounting for familial factors. Australian health professionals are urging the public to rely on evidence-based advice rather than political rhetoric.
This isn’t the first time Trump has waded into medical debates with unverified claims. His 2020 promotion of hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 drew similar scrutiny. Critics, including Sydney-based paediatrician Dr. Jane Harper, warn that such statements could erode trust in healthcare systems. “Telling women to avoid safe, proven medication is dangerously irresponsible,” she said.
The White House has doubled down, promoting an alternative drug, leucovorin, as a potential autism treatment, though no peer-reviewed evidence supports this either. As the debate rages, Australian health authorities are reassuring expectant mothers that paracetamol remains safe when used as directed. The incident highlights ongoing tensions between political narratives and scientific consensus, leaving many Aussies questioning the influence of US policy on global health.
