Women's Health in the South East welcomes and thanks leading Australian health experts for their swift condemnation of President Trump's unfounded claims linking paracetamol use in pregnancy to autism.
"At WHISE, we know that when leaders with overwhelming power and global influence make such dangerous comments, they cause immediate and significant damage in our communities. We're already seeing unwarranted despair and anxiety among pregnant women and families. These statements exacerbate discrimination against groups already facing prejudice - women seeking healthcare and autism families - while once again placing blame on women for circumstances beyond their control." Said Kit McMahon
Australia's medical authorities moved decisively to counter this dangerous misinformation. The Therapeutic Goods Administration and Chief Medical Officer Professor Michael Kidd reaffirmed that "paracetamol remains pregnancy category A in Australia, meaning that it is considered safe for use in pregnancy."
Former Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly described Trump's announcement as "mal-information" and warned it would be "cruel" to tell pregnant women not to take safe, effective medication. He also highlighted the cruel impact on autism families, warning the claims place unfair blame on parents and that "feeling of blame and of guilt is really common and incredibly dangerous and not helpful." The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists warns this creates "not a no-harm scenario" when women fear taking medications they need.
Dr Elisha Broom, a maternal foetal medicine specialist, noted that the most recent robust study of 2.5 million Swedish children "did not demonstrate any association with paracetamol use in pregnancy and increased risk of neurodivergence." Australian Medical Association President Dr Danielle McMullen confirmed "no studies supported the Trump administration's claims."
"This is disinformation and is a dangerous intersection of medical ignorance and discrimination – against women and people with a disability ," said Kit McMahon, CEO of WHISE. "Women's pain and health concerns are already too often dismissed or minimised. These reckless claims compound that harm while simultaneously stigmatising autism and autism families."
Women's Health in the South East calls on:
- Healthcare providers to proactively address patient concerns about paracetamol safety particularly women and families in our community who face compounding barriers to accessing clear and consistent/evidence based information
- Because of the evidence base, media outlets need to clearly label Trump's claims as medically unfounded
- Community leaders to actively counter deliberate disinformation that is causing real harm in our communities
It is only by acting together, from the evidence base, using consistent clear information that we can counter this dangerous disinformation.
For evidence-based information about medication safety in pregnancy, consult your healthcare provider.
