Trump's claims on paracetamol's link to autism unscientific: Experts

Former WHO chief scientist says remarks premature, drug still safest for pregnant women

- 

FORMER World Health Organization (WHO) Chief Scientist Soumya Swaminathan on Tuesday said there is no scientific basis to United States President Donald Trump's statement that the common painkiller Tylenol, known as paracetamol in India, is linked to autism.

Speaking with this paper, the Indian paediatrician said Trump's remarks had created panic. She stressed that paracetamol is "still the safest drug for pregnant women." "There is no new evidence that links paracetamol use to autism," she said. "I don't know what prompted him (Trump) to make such remarks. It seems premature and rushed. The sudden announcement has created a lot of panic." Swaminathan said that while some past studies had shown some link, the association was "weak" and there has been "no new research".