The State of Texas Attorney General Sues Tylenol Makers Regarding Autism Allegations

Judicial Proceedings
The Texas Attorney General, a Trump ally who is running for US Senate, accused pharmaceutical manufacturers of concealing the risks of Tylenol

The top legal official in Texas Ken Paxton is filing a lawsuit against the manufacturers of Tylenol, alleging the companies hid alleged dangers that the pain reliever created to pediatric brain development.

This legal action arrives a month after Donald Trump advocated an unsubstantiated connection between using acetaminophen - also known as paracetamol - while pregnant and autism spectrum disorder in young ones.

Paxton is filing suit against Johnson & Johnson, which previously sold the drug, the only pain reliever recommended for expectant mothers, and the current manufacturer, which currently produces it.

In a official comment, he claimed they "misled consumers by gaining financially from suffering and promoting medication regardless of the risks."

The manufacturer asserts there is lacking scientific proof connecting acetaminophen to autism spectrum disorder.

"These manufacturers lied for decades, deliberately risking numerous people to line their pockets," the attorney general, from the Republican party, said.

The manufacturer commented that it was "seriously troubled by the spread of false claims on the security of paracetamol and the possible consequences that could have on the well-being of women and children in America."

On its official site, Kenvue also said it had "continuously evaluated the applicable studies and there is insufficient valid information that demonstrates a verified association between using acetaminophen and autism spectrum disorder."

Groups representing medical professionals and medical practitioners concur.

ACOG has said acetaminophen - the primary component in acetaminophen - is one of the few options for expectant mothers to address pain and elevated temperature, which can pose significant medical dangers if ignored.

"In over twenty years of investigation on the use of acetaminophen in gestation, not a single reputable study has conclusively proven that the use of paracetamol in any trimester of gestation causes neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring," the association stated.

This legal action cites recent announcements from the previous government in asserting the medication is potentially dangerous.

Last month, the former president raised alarms from medical authorities when he instructed expectant mothers to "resist strongly" not to take Tylenol when sick.

The FDA then published an announcement that physicians should contemplate reducing the consumption of acetaminophen, while also mentioning that "a causal relationship" between the medication and autism in minors has not been established.

Health Secretary Kennedy, who supervises the Food and Drug Administration, had pledged in spring to conduct "comprehensive study program" that would establish the origin of autism in a matter of months.

But experts advised that finding a single cause of autism - considered by experts to be the result of a complicated interplay of inherited and environmental factors - would be difficult.

Autism is a form of lifelong neurodivergence and disability that affects how individuals experience and interact with the surroundings, and is identified using medical professional evaluations.

In his court filing, Paxton - who supports Trump who is running for federal office - alleges the manufacturer and J&J "intentionally overlooked and tried to quiet the evidence" around paracetamol and autism spectrum disorder.

The case attempts to require the corporations "remove any marketing or advertising" that claims acetaminophen is reliable for pregnant women.

This legal action echoes the grievances of a group of parents of young ones with autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder who sued the makers of Tylenol in recently.

A federal judge threw out the lawsuit, saying investigations from the parents' expert witnesses was inconclusive.

Gregg Buckley
Gregg Buckley

Lena is a freelance writer and digital enthusiast passionate about sharing everyday experiences and tech tips.