Guernsey consultants have joined Health officials from around the globe to affirm the safety of paracetamol use during pregnancy.
Donald Trump, claimed on Monday (22 September) that acetaminophen is "not good" for pregnant women.
He blamed an over-the-counter pain relief drug, which is known as paracetamol in the UK and branded Tylenol in the US, for a "meteoric" rise in Autism diagnoses.
There has been a global response from doctors disputing this unfounded link.
Appearing on ITV's Lorraine, the Health Secretary Wes Streeting said expectant mothers should pay no "attention whatsoever to what Donald Trump says about medicine".
Guernsey Consultant Community Paediatrician, Amma Oppong, labelled Donald Trump’s theory “alarmist commentary.”
“A comprehensive population-based study conducted in Sweden, involving over 2.4 million children and published in 2024 in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found no association between use of acetaminophen (paracetamol) in pregnancy and increased risk of Autism. Assertions to the contrary risk causing unnecessary alarm among expectant mothers.
“Paracetamol remains the recommended pain relief medication during pregnancy. It is widely used and considered one of the safest options for managing pain while pregnant.
"Pregnant women should not stop taking medication without consulting their doctors.
"Untreated pain or fever can harm the baby.
"Alarmist commentary risks deterring pregnant women from seeking appropriate medical care and may lead to avoidable suffering due to fear and misinformation.
“Paracetamol continues to be a safe and effective choice for pain relief during pregnancy. If you have any concerns, please speak to your GP, Health Visitor, or midwife.”
Consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist Miss Lauren Green from Guernsey's Medical Specialist Group has this message for expectant mothers:
"There are no known risks to women taking paracetamol during pregnancy.
"In fact, paracetamol is the best studied painkiller for women during pregnancy.
"Pain and fever in pregnancy can be associated with complications, so it’s safer to take paracetamol than not in these circumstances."
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