Texas Attorney General Sues Tylenol Makers Regarding Autism Allegations
Texas Attorney General Paxton is suing the manufacturers of Tylenol, alleging the companies hid safety concerns that the pain reliever presented to children's cognitive development.
The lawsuit comes a month after Donald Trump promoted an unsubstantiated connection between using acetaminophen - referred to as paracetamol - while pregnant and autism in children.
The attorney general is suing J&J, which formerly manufactured the medication, the only pain reliever suggested for expectant mothers, and Kenvue, which now manufacturers it.
In a official comment, he said they "deceived the public by making money from suffering and promoting medication regardless of the potential hazards."
Kenvue asserts there is lacking scientific proof tying acetaminophen to autism.
"These manufacturers lied for decades, knowingly endangering countless individuals to increase profits," Paxton, a Republican, stated.
The company commented that it was "very worried by the spread of false claims on the safety of acetaminophen and the possible consequences that could have on the welfare of women and children in America."
On its official site, the company also said it had "continuously evaluated the relevant science and there is lacking reliable evidence that indicates a proven link between using paracetamol and autism spectrum disorder."
Organizations speaking for physicians and health professionals share this view.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has stated acetaminophen - the primary component in acetaminophen - is a restricted selection for expectant mothers to manage discomfort and fever, which can create significant medical dangers if left untreated.
"In over twenty years of investigation on the use of acetaminophen in pregnancy, zero credible investigations has definitively established that the consumption of paracetamol in any period of pregnancy causes neurodevelopmental disorders in young ones," the association commented.
The court filing mentions recent announcements from the previous government in asserting the medication is allegedly unsafe.
In recent weeks, the former president generated worry from health experts when he told pregnant women to "struggle intensely" not to consume Tylenol when sick.
The US Food and Drug Administration then published an announcement that medical professionals should think about restricting the use of Tylenol, while also stating that "a direct connection" between the drug and autism in young ones has not been proven.
Health Secretary Kennedy, who supervises the Food and Drug Administration, had promised in April to initiate "comprehensive study program" that would establish the cause of autism in a limited time.
But experts warned that finding a sole reason of autism spectrum disorder - believed by scientists to be the consequence of a complex mix of genetic and environmental factors - would prove challenging.
Autism spectrum disorder is a category of enduring cognitive variation and impairment that affects how people encounter and interact with the surroundings, and is identified using physician assessments.
In his court filing, Paxton - who supports Trump who is seeking the Senate - asserts Kenvue and Johnson & Johnson "deliberately disregarded and sought to suppress the science" around acetaminophen and autism spectrum disorder.
The lawsuit seeks to make the corporations "destroy any promotional materials" that asserts Tylenol is reliable for women during pregnancy.
The court case parallels the concerns of a assembly of parents of minors with autism and ADHD who took legal action against the producers of Tylenol in recently.
A federal judge threw out the lawsuit, stating investigations from the plaintiffs' authorities was inconclusive.