MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia University Health Sciences Dean said the assumption of a link between autism and acetaminophen isn’t pulled out of thin air. Speaking on MetroNews Talkline Tuesday, Dr. Clay Marsh said
there was some limited research which suggested the possibility of a link between the two.
However, Marsh said the broader body of research, a “study of studies” as he called it, suggested pregnant women were not putting themselves or an unborn baby at risk by taking the drug. President Trump has recommended along with his FDA Director pregnant women not take Tylenol or its active ingredient due to a risk of creating autism.
“The most respected, professional groups, the American College of Obstetrics and Genecology as well as the Society of Maternal Fetal Medicine both say pregnant women should not be scared to take Tylenol. You should always try to minimize the amount you’re taking, but it’s more important to have relief from pain and fever for the protection of the baby,” Marsh told MetroNews.
Marsh said he believed the President “leaned into” the part of the research he understood as part of his declaration.
“I think the bottom line is President Trump leaned into selected data of the entire data set and the best study said there’s no association,” he added.
Marsh said he would have no concern about recommending Tylenol to his own wife or daughter if they were pregnant.