Misinformation, Autism, and Trust: The Real Harm Beyond the Headlines
Really? Are we really doing this again?
Every so often, a new claim about what “causes” autism hits the headlines. I’ve been in this field long enough to see the cycle repeat: vaccines, parenting myths, diets — and now, paracetamol. Each time, the science tells us otherwise. And each time, autistic people and their families are left carrying the weight of misinformation.
This week, Donald Trump claimed that taking Tylenol (paracetamol) in pregnancy causes autism. The statement spread fast. It made headlines. It rattled mums, families, and autistic people everywhere.
And yet -drum roll- there is no evidence to support this claim.
Large studies, systematic reviews, and regulators across Europe and the UK have been clear: paracetamol remains an option in pregnancy when used at the lowest effective dose, for the shortest necessary time. Autism is not caused by painkillers.
But I don’t want to just talk about the science. I want to talk about why this matters, and why it hurts.
My perspective as an autistic mum and researcher
I am an autistic person, a mum, and someone who has lived with multiple chronic conditions. I know what it’s like to navigate pregnancy with medication decisions hanging over me, weighed down by both unbearable symptoms and stigma. Every conversation with healthcare professionals carried that gnawing fear: will I be understood, or will I be dismissed?
This isn’t just my story. For my master’s and now my PhD, I’ve spent years listening to autistic people around the world, in interviews, focus groups, and surveys. Again and again, two fears rise to the top: employment and healthcare. The dread of being misunderstood by a doctor. The worry of being judged. The anxiety that your voice won’t count when decisions are made about you and your own body.
And now? This kind of misinformation just stirs that pot further.
What the evidence actually says
The science is not ambiguous here.
A Swedish sibling-control study of 2.4 million children found no increased risk of autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability from prenatal paracetamol use (Liew et al., JAMA, 2024). By comparing siblings within the same families, it controlled for many genetic and environmental factors that smaller studies cannot.
A 2025 review of 46 studies found results across the literature were inconsistent and often biased, but crucially: no causal link could be confirmed. The authors warned that overstating weak associations fuels harmful misinformation (Environmental Health, 2025).
The EMA (European Medicines Agency) and the UK’s MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) both state there is no evidence requiring any change to existing advice. Paracetamol remains a recommended option when used appropriately (EMA, 2025), (MHRA, 2025).
Some smaller studies have suggested weak associations (which, by the way, is normal in this kind of science; there is a lot we still don’t know about how our body works), but when you look closer, those findings are riddled with confounding. Was it the medication? Or the infection, stress, or fever that prompted someone to take it? Correlation is not causation. Regulators know this. That’s why the advice hasn’t changed.
Beyond science: the human impact
It is tempting to see these headlines as just noise. Another politician saying something outrageous. But words matter. These words matter.
Because behind every headline are autistic people, parents, and families who carry the weight of stigma every day. For autistic people, healthcare is already one of the most feared and fraught parts of life. Research shows we delay care, we avoid hospitals, we second-guess ourselves (Goodness knows I’ve done it). Not because we don’t care about our health, but because we are so often dismissed or misunderstood (Doherty et al., 2020).
For autistic women and birthing people, pregnancy is already a minefield of judgment and barriers (Lewis, L. F. 2021). Add misinformation into the mix, and you magnify fear, guilt, and shame.
This isn’t abstract. These are real lives. Real anxieties. Real people who now wonder if something they took in pregnancy could “cause” their child’s autism, even when the science clearly says otherwise.
Standing together
At Work’n’Diversity, we believe evidence matters. But we also believe people matter. Autistic people matter. Families matter.
So the next time a headline like this flashes across your screen, I hope you remember this: autism is not caused by painkillers. It is a natural, human variation.
What harms autistic people isn’t paracetamol: it’s stigma, misinformation, and exclusion.
And that is what we stand united against.
A small request
I am convinced that everyone has their own expertise in this world. Now, I don’t know what Trump’s is exactly — but it’s not this one, evidently.
So here’s my ask:
Trust medical professionals.
Trust research.
Do your own reading, but from evidence-based sources.
And if you’re unsure, ask someone who can help you find the right material.
Because health decisions should be grounded in science, not in political theatre.
💜 And, if you are finding this difficult
Whether you are autistic, a mum, a carer, an ally, a doctor — or all of the above and more — these discussions can be heavy and distressing. You are not alone, and support is available:
In the UK, you can call NHS 111 for urgent health advice, or 999 in an emergency.
For mental health support, call Samaritans on 116 123 (free, 24/7).
If you are outside the UK, please contact your local emergency services or healthcare provider.
A personal note
This is just a blog post. I’ve tried to keep it brief, but there is so much more I could say. This has been my life’s work for many years, through my academic journey, my work, and my everyday reality as an autistic mum.
And yet, every time it feels like we take one step forward, we are pushed twenty steps back by stigma and misinformation.
I have (even more) plans to make more space for these conversations, to share more of what I’ve learned through research and lived experience. Advocacy has always been one of the main aims of Work’n’Diversity CIC, and it is one of mine too.
This work will always continue, because evidence matters — and people matter even more. And I hope you’ll stand with me, because real change will only come if we face this together.