'Unbelievable BS': Former GP Ciara Kelly slams Trump's paracetamol link to autism claims

US president Donald Trump is facing huge backlash from health experts all around the world as his latest advice in the medical sector has caused quite the stir.

Trump claimed that there could be a link between the use of paracetamol in pregnancy and the development of autism. He claims the drug known as Tylenol in America could be the reason behind the rise in cases and stated that doctors in the US will be advised to tell pregnant women to avoid it at all costs.

Trump is offering no evidence behind the claims. Speaking on Monday night, Trump said: "Taking Tylenol is not good, it is strongly recommended that women limit Tylenol use during pregnancy unless medically necessary".

He continued: "Effective immediately the FDA will be notifying physicians against the use of acetaminophen which is commonly known as Tylenol during pregnancy, it can be associated with the increased rise of autism".

Trump's claims were the topic of discussion on the Newstalk's breakfast show with Ciara Kelly and Jonathan Healy. Former GP Ciara Kelly pointed out Trumps choice of saying "medically necessary' when referring to the use of the tablets but queried "what other reason would anyone be using paracetamol". 

Kelly continued by saying: "This is appalling stuff". Her co-host Jonathan Healy chimed in adding: "It's off the wall, nuts and there's no point saying otherwise, its up there with Trump's comments about bleach being an effective cure for Covid if you inject it, there no evidence to support this but there's lots of evidence to support the contrary". 

Healy continued his passionate condemnation of the President's remarks. "We know that autism is linked to genetics and what is more egregious about this is what Trump is doing is that he's saying to the parents of autistic kids and autistic people that 'you did this by taking paracetamol or Tylenol whilst pregnant and that's the reason your child has autism'.

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Healy concluded by pointing out the audacity of the President to give such advice saying: "It is so wrong, it is unbelievable BS that somebody in a position of authority such as Donald Trump can come out and say this. 

Ciara Kelly who has an extensive medical background also stated: "Its the big lie and the bigger the lie the harder it is to refute, he's flooding the zone with all kinds of crackpot stuff to distract and deflect from what's going on, the reality of it is there's no evidence to suggest it's true".

Kelly admits it may be a much larger issue that health officials in the country can provide such unfounded claims as truth. She adds: "It seems to me that the health service, the FDA, the health secretary in the US particularly Robert F. Kennedy who's a conspiracy theorist and an anti-vaxxer, evidence no longer matters, they have feelings about science and feelings about healthcare and they run with that".

She gives her own thoughts debunking the theory explaining: "The truth is that autism is a neurodivergent condition that is caused by a multifactorial genetic link that there's isn't just one but several genes involved, this is just nonsense, the first cases of autism were described in literature before Paracetamol was ever invented and this is absolute nonsense. Its cruel to put this stuff in the ether to confuse and upset families who are caught up in this nonsense, it's just wrong".

The Newstalk hosts then referred to parents of children with autism who have been in touch with the show. One parent summed up her feelings towards Trump's claims saying: "As the mother of an autistic child , I find Donald Trump's comments offensive, autism does not need to be eradicated or cured, it is a brain type that without, the world would not have experienced great minds like Einstein or Beethoven.

The mother drew on her own personal experiences explaining: "I would not change my daughter's autism for the world, she does not have words and signs but communicates through AAC, she is the most special clever little girl in the world and has taught me so so much about life and respect for others, shame on Donald Trump".

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The Irish Medical Organisation have responded to Donald Trump's advice. Dr. Anne Dee, President of the IMO and a public health consultant said: "Comments by US President Donald Trump and US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. linking autism in children with both vaccines and their mother's paracetamol usage while pregnant are demonstrably false and hugely irresponsible". 

The statement continued: "There is no scientific evidence to suggest that paracetamol usage whilst pregnant is linked to autism in children, and this assertion does nothing but undermine pregnant women's confidence in the medical system for no justifiable reason at a particularly vulnerable time in their lives". 

The IMO's briefing also addressed the US President's attitude to vaccines. It read: "There is no credible link between vaccine uptake in children and autism. Vaccines are among the greatest scientific inventions that healthcare has seen saving millions of lives worldwide. Governments around the world are working very hard to promote the uptake of vaccines so it is very regrettable and unhelpful that the US administration is fueling this type of misinformation". 

They concluded the statement by saying: "These false assertions pose a real threat to public health, and the wellbeing of children and pregnant women. I urge all people to dismiss them in full". 

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Ireland's Autism charity, AsIAm also released a statement on Tuesday afternoon addressing the US President's claims. It read: "We note with deep concern the comments of the US government linking the use of paracetamol and vaccination to autism. Such remarks are not grounded in credible scientific evidence and risk promoting a medicalised, stigmatising and ultimately harmful view of autistic people". 

The release also expresses that: "Autism is not a disease to be cured. It is a natural variation in human neurology. Suggesting otherwise seeks to bring us back decades in terms of knowledge and understanding - fuels fear, misinformation and prejudice". 

The charity finished the statement by adding: "We send our support and good will to autistic people in the United States at this troubling time for our community. That such information is being spread, to the entire exclusion of autistic voices will only strengthen the resolve of our community to defend our right to live in neuroaffirmative societies in which autistic people are accepted "as they are" - equal, valued and respected."