Medical Community Rejects RFK Jr.'s Tylenol-Autism Link Amidst Strong Backlash

Reports indicating that U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s forthcoming report will link Tylenol use during pregnancy to autism have ignited a fierce reaction from the medical community, with experts vehemently denying any proven causal link. Dr. Nisha Patel, a physician with an MD, MS, and diplomatic status with the American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM) and certification in Clinical Lipidology (CCMS), publicly denounced the claims as "reckless fearmongering" and a "slap in the face to every woman who has ever been pregnant."

The controversy stems from reports, notably by the Wall Street Journal, that Kennedy's Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) report, expected this month, will suggest a connection between prenatal acetaminophen (Tylenol's active ingredient) exposure and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This purported link contradicts the overwhelming consensus of leading medical organizations worldwide.

Medical bodies, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM), consistently affirm acetaminophen as a safe and recommended option for pain and fever relief during pregnancy. They emphasize that untreated fever and pain in pregnant individuals can pose significant risks, including miscarriage, birth defects, and maternal complications.

While some smaller observational studies have explored an association between prenatal acetaminophen and neurodevelopmental outcomes, the largest and most rigorous studies, such as a 2024 study involving 2.4 million children in Sweden, have found no evidence to support a causal link. Legal challenges alleging such a connection have also been dismissed in U.S. federal courts due to a lack of scientific evidence.

Kenvue, the manufacturer of Tylenol, has reiterated its stance that "there is no causal link between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and autism," stating they have continuously evaluated the science. Shares of Kenvue experienced a notable decline following the initial reports of Kennedy's impending announcement.

HHS has issued a statement noting that any claims about the report's contents are "speculation" until its official release, adding that the agency is using "gold-standard science to get to the bottom of America's unprecedented rise in autism rates." However, critics argue that promoting an unproven link could lead pregnant individuals to avoid a safe and necessary medication, potentially jeopardizing maternal and fetal health.