US President Donald Trump warned women on Monday that paracetamol use increases the chance of autism during pregnancy. That statement is full against the medical advice and can have dangerous consequences, experts say to NU.nl.
Trump claimed Monday that swallowing Tylenol, known in the Netherlands as paracetamol, is “not good”. He also said that pregnant women who, for example, get extreme fever “have to fight hard”, but should not take paracetamol. “While pain or fever can also be harmful to the unborn child,” says Ton de Boer, chairman of the Dutch College for Evaluation of Medicines (CBG) in a statement.
Trump’s advice is therefore at odds with medical advice. International health agencies such as the European Medicines Office (EMA) and the World Health Organization WHO emphasize that they see no reason to adjust advice on paracetamol use during pregnancy. The American food and drug authority FDA also acknowledges that no causal link has been established between paracetamol use and autism.
That an American president issues medical advice is “very strange and controversial,” says American expert Andrew Gawthorpe. Why does Trump do this? There are various reasons for this, says the university lecturer at Leiden University. “One is that this subject interests him personally,” says Gawthorpe.
Trump said years ago that he had spread the time between vaccinations with his own son Barron because he thought too many vaccinations could cause autism in one go. “Scientifically, that is really total nonsense,” emphasizes child and adult psychiatrist Janneke Zinkstok of the Radboudumc. She is an expert in the field of developmental disorders and vice -president of the Dutch Autism Directive.
The myth that vaccinations can cause autism has been helped by the British former doctor Andrew Wakefield. When it turned out that he had forged the data from his research, according to Zincstok he was no longer allowed to do research in England and he was even deleted from the doctor’s register. “But to this day, his research causes a lot of damage.”
‘Health science in the US is under pressure’
Trump may also have political reasons to speak out in this way about autism, says Gawthorpe. With this he meets the vision of Americans who are critical of vaccinations. A well -known figurehead of this view is the current Minister of Health, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. who spread conspiracy theories about vaccines for years, including the claim that they would cause autism.
According to Gawthorpe, the Republicans in the United States have increasingly become the party for the lower -educated and people who are suspicious of any form of elite. This created room for people like Kennedy. “Kennedy is someone who believes in many crazy and clearly incorrect things,” says the university teacher.
For example, Kennedy believes that HIV does not cause AIDS and that chemtrails exist (in other words, that through the stripes that planes leave, heavy metals are scattered over us). As a minister “he has the power to act towards these incorrect beliefs in a way that will cost human lives,” writes Gawthorpe in his newsletter America Explained .
Kennedy is currently focusing on the adjustment of the guidelines surrounding vaccinations. He has already replaced the committee that is about this by vaccination skeptics, says health economist Wim Groot of Maastricht University. “He has also deleted the free coronavaccination for people under the age of 65 in the US.”
“Since Trump and Kennedy took office, health science in the US is under pressure,” says Groot. For example, Trump has withdrawn the subsidies for the WHO and the government no longer gives the American counterpart of the RIVM.
‘Sow doubts about plenty of used health products’
With his statements, Trump sows doubts about plenty of used health products such as paracetamol and research showing that they have few harmful side effects in the event of “normal use”, Groot emphasizes Groot. “It also strengthens the doubts about vaccinations, which is very harmful to public health.”
In addition, Trump’s statements are detrimental to (pregnant) women. For example, some will be less likely to take paracetamol during pregnancy. “This means more pain and discomfort,” says Groot. “If they don’t believe him and take paracetamol, they are saddled with a debt complex and blame if it turns out that their child has autism.”
Trump’s words are also hurtful for people with autism, Zincstok adds. “As if you can’t be there.” She accompanies that autism is “not something that we need or want to ban from society.” She also emphasizes that this is not possible at all or is even desirable. “We only deal with any additional problems with autism, not autism itself.”
Most people with autism also never have to go to a psychiatrist, says Zincstok. “There is a stigma of neurodiversity, which is confirmed again by these kinds of statements. As a psychiatrist I find that very harmful and sad.”
US President Donald Trump Warned Women on Monday that using acetaminophen duration pregnancy Increases the Risk of Autism. Experts Tell Nu.nl that this claim is completely contrary to medical advice and can have dangerous consequences.
Trump Claimed Monday That Taking Tylenol, which is Known as acetaminophen in the Netherlands, is “Not good.” Hey also said that pregnant Women who get, for example, extreme fevers “have to fight hard,” but special should not take acetaminophen. “While Pain or Fever can also be Harmful to the Unborn Child,” Said Chairman Ton de Boer of the Dutch Medicines Evaluation Board (CBG) in A Statement.
Trump’s Advice is Therefore at Odds with Medical Advice. International Health Agencies Such As the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) Emphasize that They No Reason to Change Advice on Acetaminophen use pregnancy. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Also Acknowledges that no causal link has legsblooded between acetaminophen use and autism.
That an American President is Issuing Medical Advice is “Very Strange and Controversial,” Says American Expert Andrew Gawthorpe. Why is Trump Doing This Then? There are Several Reasons for this, Says the University Lecturer from Leiden University. “One of them is that he is personally interested in this subject,” Says Gawthorpe.
Trump Said years ago he had spaced out the time between vaccinations for his own barron because he thought many vaccinations at Once Could caus autism. “Scientifically speak, that is really Total Nonsense,” Emphasizes Child and Adolescent psychiatrist Janneke Zinkstok or Radboudumc. She is an expert in the Field of Developmental Disorders and Vice-Chairman of the Dutch Autism Guideline.
The Myth That Vaccinations Can Cause Autism was Helped Into The World by the British Former Doctor Andrew Wakefield. When it turned out that he had falsified the data from his research, he was no longer allowed to do research in England, accordance to zincstick, and he was just removed from the medical register. “But to this day, his research still causes a lot of damage.”
‘Health Science in the US is Under Pressure’
Trump May also have political reasons for speaking out about autism in this way, Says Gawthorpe. In Doing So, He is responding to the views of Americans who are critical of vaccinations. A Well-Known Figurehead of This View is the Current Secretary of Health, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Who Spread Conspiracy Theories About Vaccines For Years, Including the Claim That They Cause Autism.
Accordance to Gawthorpe, The Republicans in the United States Have Increasingly Become the Party for the Less Educated and for People who are Distrustful of Any Form of Elite. As a result, space has leg created there for people like kennedy. “Kennedy is some who believes in a lot of crazy and obviously incorrect things,” Says the University Lecturer.
For Example, Kennedy Believes That Hiv Does Not Cause Aids and That Chemtrails Exist (In Other Words, That Heavy Metals Are Spread over US via The Streaks That AirPlanes Leave Behind). As Minister, “He has the power to act on these incorrect beliefs in a way that will cost lives,” Gawthorpe Writes in His newsletter America Explained .
Kennedy is Currently Focusing On Adjusting the Guidelines Surrounding Vaccinations. He has already had the committee that deals with this replaced by vaccination skeptics, says health economist Wim Groot of Maastricht University. “He has also scrapped the free corona vaccination for people under 65 in the us.”
“Since Trump and Kennedy Tok Office, Health Science in the US Has Been Under Pressure,” Says Groot. For Example, Trump Has withdrawn subsidies for the who and the Government No Longer Gives Money to the American Equivalent of the Rivm.
‘Sowing Doubt About Widely Used Health Products’
With His statements, Trump is Sowing Doubt about Widely Used Health Products Such As Acetaminophen and About Research That Shops That Have Few Harmful Side Effects With “Normal Use,” Great Emphasizes. “It also reinforces doubts about vaccinations, which is very harmful to public health.”
In Addition, Trump’s Statements Are Dtrimental to (Pregnant) Women. For example, some will be less likely to take acetaminophen duration pregnancy. “This means more pain and discomfort,” Says big. “If they don’t believe him and take acetaminophen, they will be saddled with guilt and blame if it turns out that their child has autism.”
Trump’s words are also hurtful to people with autism, zinc stick adds. “As if you are not allowed to be there.” She pointss out that autism “is not something we should or because to ban from society.” She also emphasizes that this is not possible or even desirable. “We only treat the possible additional problems with autism, not autism itself.”
Most people with autism never need to see a psychiatrist, zinc stand. “There is a stigma attached to neurodiversity, which is confirmed again by statements like thesis. As a psychiatrist, I find that very harmful and sad.”