Lawsuits Against Tylenol Maker Gain Momentum After Trump Links Acetaminophen to Autism
President Trump publicly urged pregnant women to limit use of Tylenol, linking acetaminophen to autism — comments critics said echoed discredited "blame‑the‑mother" narratives — while the FDA stressed that some studies report an association but do not establish causation. The administration’s citing of expert Dr. Andrea Baccarelli and announcement to begin a label‑update process coincided with plaintiffs’ lawyers reporting more than 1,000 calls and filing new court letters to support an appeal after a 2023 SDNY ruling excluded prior expert testimony for relying on association rather than causation.
🔍 Key Facts
- President Trump publicly urged pregnant women to 'tough it out' and said they should take Tylenol sparingly (reported week of Sept. 26, 2025).
- The FDA issued a measured press release saying some studies report an association between prenatal acetaminophen use and autism but that a causal relationship has not been established.
- The administration nevertheless said it would begin the process of updating Tylenol labeling after the president's comments.
- Medical scholars and advocates warned the president's remarks echoed historical, discredited 'refrigerator‑mom' narratives that blamed mothers and fueled stigma.
- Plaintiffs' attorney Ashley Keller said his firm received an influx of more than 1,000 calls from potential clients after the administration's announcement and is filing a new letter with the court citing that the administration credited expert Dr. Andrea Baccarelli.
- A 2023 SDNY ruling by Judge Denise Cote excluded the plaintiffs' expert testimony for relying on association rather than causation; NPR noted the administration's public citation of an expert could be used in appellate briefing.
📊 Analysis & Commentary (1)
"A skeptical WSJ opinion piece critiques recent public warnings (from Trump and HHS) that prenatal acetaminophen causes autism, arguing the evidence is associative and weak, warning against alarmist public messaging and litigation‑driven amplification without stronger causal proof."
📰 Sources (2)
- Plaintiffs' attorney Ashley Keller says his firm received an influx of more than 1,000 calls from potential clients after the administration's announcement.
- Keller and his team are filing a new letter with the court to support an ongoing appeal, citing that the administration credited expert Dr. Andrea Baccarelli.
- The article reiterates that a 2023 SDNY ruling by Judge Denise Cote excluded the plaintiffs' expert testimony for relying on association rather than causation, and explains how the administration's citing of an expert could be used in appellate briefing.
- The FDA issued a more measured press release noting some studies report an association but have not established causation; the administration nonetheless publicly said it would begin the label‑update process.
- President Trump publicly urged pregnant women to 'tough it out' and take Tylenol sparingly (reported week of Sept. 26, 2025).
- The FDA clarified that while studies have described an association between acetaminophen and autism, 'a causal relationship has not been established.'
- Medical scholars and advocates warned the president's remarks echoed historical, discredited 'refrigerator‑mom' narratives that blamed mothers and fueled stigma.