The State of Texas Top Legal Officer Files Lawsuit Against Acetaminophen Manufacturers Regarding Autism Spectrum Claims
Texas Attorney General Paxton is taking legal action against the producers of acetaminophen, asserting the corporations withheld potential risks that the drug presented to children's brain development.
The court filing follows thirty days after Former President Trump advocated an unproven link between taking acetaminophen - also known as paracetamol - during pregnancy and autism spectrum disorder in children.
Paxton is filing suit against Johnson & Johnson, which once produced the medication, the exclusive pain medication recommended for expectant mothers, and the current manufacturer, which presently makes it.
In a official comment, he said they "betrayed America by profiting off of pain and pushing pills without regard for the potential hazards."
The manufacturer states there is insufficient reliable data linking Tylenol to autism.
"These corporations misled for generations, intentionally threatening numerous people to increase profits," Paxton, a Republican, said.
The manufacturer stated officially that it was "very worried by the dissemination of inaccurate information on the safety of acetaminophen and the possible consequences that could have on the health of US mothers and children."
On its website, the company also stated it had "continuously evaluated the applicable studies and there is no credible data that shows a proven link between taking acetaminophen and autism."
Groups representing doctors and health professionals concur.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has declared paracetamol - the key substance in Tylenol - is among limited choices for women during pregnancy to treat discomfort and elevated temperature, which can present significant medical dangers if ignored.
"In over twenty years of investigation on the consumption of paracetamol in pregnancy, no reliable research has definitively established that the usage of acetaminophen in any stage of gestation causes neurological conditions in offspring," the group stated.
The court filing cites recent announcements from the previous government in arguing the drug is allegedly unsafe.
Recently, Trump generated worry from medical authorities when he instructed pregnant women to "resist strongly" not to consume Tylenol when ill.
Federal regulators then issued a notice that doctors should consider limiting the use of Tylenol, while also mentioning that "a causal relationship" between the drug and autism spectrum disorder in minors has not been established.
The Health Department head RFK Jr, who manages the FDA, had promised in April to conduct "extensive scientific investigation" that would establish the source of autism spectrum disorder in a limited time.
But authorities warned that discovering a single cause of autism - considered by experts to be the result of a intricate combination of inherited and environmental factors - would be difficult.
Autism is a type of enduring cognitive variation and condition that impacts how people experience and engage with the world, and is diagnosed using medical professional evaluations.
In his lawsuit, the attorney general - who supports Trump who is seeking federal office - alleges the manufacturer and J&J "deliberately disregarded and tried to quiet the research" around acetaminophen and autism.
The lawsuit attempts to require the firms "eliminate any marketing or advertising" that claims Tylenol is reliable for women during pregnancy.
The court case echoes the concerns of a collection of mothers and fathers of minors with autism spectrum disorder and ADHD who took legal action against the makers of acetaminophen in recently.
Judicial authorities dismissed the lawsuit, saying research from the plaintiffs' authorities was lacking definitive proof.