Texas Attorney General Files Lawsuit Against Acetaminophen Makers Concerning Autism Spectrum Assertions

Courtroom Case
Ken Paxton, who supports former President Trump seeking election to US Senate, accused the drug companies of hiding the risks of acetaminophen

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is filing a lawsuit against the makers of acetaminophen, asserting the firms concealed potential risks that the pain reliever presented to pediatric cognitive development.

The lawsuit comes four weeks after Donald Trump promoted an unproven link between taking acetaminophen - also known as paracetamol - while pregnant and autism in young ones.

The attorney general is suing the pharmaceutical giant, which formerly manufactured the medication, the only pain reliever suggested for women during pregnancy, and the current manufacturer, which presently makes it.

In a official comment, he said they "deceived the public by making money from pain and marketing drugs regardless of the potential hazards."

Kenvue asserts there is no credible evidence connecting Tylenol to autism.

"These manufacturers misled for generations, deliberately risking millions to line their pockets," the attorney general, a Republican, stated.

The company said in a statement that it was "very worried by the spread of false claims on the security of acetaminophen and the likely effects that could have on the health of American women and children."

On its website, the company also said it had "regularly reviewed the applicable studies and there is no credible data that indicates a proven link between using paracetamol and autism."

Groups acting on behalf of physicians and medical practitioners agree.

The leading OB-GYN organization has stated acetaminophen - the primary component in Tylenol - is among limited choices for pregnant women to treat discomfort and elevated temperature, which can create major wellness concerns if not addressed.

"In over twenty years of research on the utilization of paracetamol in pregnancy, not a single reputable study has definitively established that the usage of paracetamol in any period of gestation results in brain development issues in young ones," the association said.

The court filing mentions recent announcements from the Trump administration in arguing the medication is potentially dangerous.

Recently, Trump raised alarms from medical authorities when he told pregnant women to "resist strongly" not to consume acetaminophen when unwell.

The US Food and Drug Administration then issued a notice that medical professionals should contemplate reducing the usage of acetaminophen, while also declaring that "a proven link" between the medication and autism in children has remains unverified.

The Health Department head Kennedy, who manages the FDA, had pledged in April to initiate "a massive testing and research effort" that would identify the cause of autism in a limited time.

But experts advised that discovering a single cause of autism spectrum disorder - considered by experts to be the result of a complicated interplay of inherited and external influences - would not be simple.

Autism spectrum disorder is a form of permanent neurological difference and disability that impacts how persons experience and relate to the world, and is diagnosed using medical professional evaluations.

In his legal document, the attorney general - who supports Trump who is seeking US Senate - alleges the manufacturer and Johnson & Johnson "intentionally overlooked and sought to suppress the science" around acetaminophen and autism spectrum disorder.

The case seeks to make the companies "eliminate any marketing or advertising" that states Tylenol is safe for pregnant women.

The court case parallels the concerns of a group of guardians of young ones with autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder who took legal action against the makers of acetaminophen in 2022.

The court rejected the case, saying investigations from the family's specialists was not conclusive.

Bryan Terry
Bryan Terry

A data scientist and analytics expert with over a decade of experience in transforming raw data into actionable insights for diverse industries.