Medical misinformation on Tylenol in pregnancy spreads faster than safety studies
Canadian obstetricians and gynecologists continue to endorse the use of acetaminophen. Their position is part of the response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s claims that Tylenol use during pregnancy and childhood is linked to autism. CBC News Compass host Louise Martin (left) spoke with Dr. Gina Colbourne regarding the issue.
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
When U.S. President Donald Trump and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. promoted unsupported warnings last fall about acetaminophen use in pregnancy, Canadian doctors began fielding worried questions from patients and colleagues about whether the common pain and fever medication was safe.
A new practice paper in this week's CMAJ says the latest, highest-quality evidence is reassuring for pregnant people who need acetaminophen, also known as paracetamol and sold under the brand name Tylenol, when it is used as directed.
The episode is a high-profile example of why so-called null findings — studies that find no link or no difference — matter. Often known as the "file drawer problem," these findings can sit unpublished or overlooked because they may seem like scientific dead ends. But doctors and researchers say they can help patients make safer decisions, counter health misinformation and prevent unnecessary changes in care.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE NEW REPORT BY THE CANADIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, ACETAMINOPHEN IN PREGNANCY
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