Refuting Trump's claim, WHO declares paracetamol safe during pregnancy

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Union have declared paracetamol safe for use during pregnancy, contradicting US President Donald Trump's warning that he had linked the common painkiller to autism.

According to a Reuters report, the WHO stated that the evidence for this link is inconsistent, and caution is needed when drawing conclusions.

Trump had linked autism to childhood vaccinations and Tylenol (paracetamol) taken by pregnant women.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) said on Tuesday that there was no new evidence to change the current recommendations on the use of paracetamol during pregnancy in the European region.

According to the EMA, “the available evidence does not find any link between paracetamol use during pregnancy and autism. Paracetamol can be used during pregnancy if necessary at the lowest effective dose and for the shortest duration possible,” and the UK’s health watchdog had previously said that its use was safe.

WHO spokesman Tariq Yasharievich said at a press briefing in Geneva that “the evidence is still inconsistent.” When asked about a possible link between paracetamol use during pregnancy and autism, he cited some anecdotal studies that showed a possible link, but subsequent research has not confirmed it.

He stated that, “great caution is needed in drawing any conclusions because the results have not been proven repeatedly".