Paracetamol, President Trump and the myths about autism
Sep 23, 2025•19 min
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Episode description
The scientific community has condemned comments made by Donald Trump and his health secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr, linking autism to the use of everyday painkillers during pregnancy.
The claim has been refuted by medical experts in both the US and UK - with some saying his comments are dangerous.
Is there any evidence linking paracetamol with autism? What damage could be done by the spread of misinformation? And has this set back the campaign for a better understanding of neurodiversity?
Niall is joined by Jessie Hewitson, a mother of two autistic children who is also the author of “Autism: How to Raise a Happy Autistic Child”, and Sky's science editor Tom Clarke.
For more on what Donald Trump said in the White House, listen to Trump 100: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2p6KWPOkUpGvrCPRQwbISb?si=20bcf885d0574ed1
If you have any questions or concerns about autism, more information is available here:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/autism/
Producers: Emily Hulme & Tom Gillespie
Editor: Mike Bovill
The claim has been refuted by medical experts in both the US and UK - with some saying his comments are dangerous.
Is there any evidence linking paracetamol with autism? What damage could be done by the spread of misinformation? And has this set back the campaign for a better understanding of neurodiversity?
Niall is joined by Jessie Hewitson, a mother of two autistic children who is also the author of “Autism: How to Raise a Happy Autistic Child”, and Sky's science editor Tom Clarke.
For more on what Donald Trump said in the White House, listen to Trump 100: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2p6KWPOkUpGvrCPRQwbISb?si=20bcf885d0574ed1
If you have any questions or concerns about autism, more information is available here:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/autism/
Producers: Emily Hulme & Tom Gillespie
Editor: Mike Bovill
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