The White House announced that it would link Tylenol to autism and promote cabbage as a treatment, which is premature and dangerous. To date, the most rigorous studies have not shown a causal relationship between acetaminophen and autism, and leukocyte proteins have not been confirmed. Pregnant women and families should be guided based on science, not politics. Public health depends on trust. Unfortunately, this trust is broken when leaders trade voice evidence.
As a physician and public health leader, I have spent decades working on the frontlines of the pandemic worldwide. From HIV in sub-Saharan Africa to Kuvid19 in New York City, I have witnessed first-hand the consequences of political convenience in replacing scientific evidence. Cost is measured not only in chaos, but also in the life of life that is lost, family instability and broken trust. What we are seeing today is another iteration of the same error.
The truth is, the science of acetaminophen and autism has not been resolved. Yes, there are contradictory research. However, the highest quality research available does not support meaningful connections, or even causality. This difference is very important. It is important for every expectant mother to make decisions about her health. This is important for every clinician trying to guide an upright patient. This is important because public health requires clear confusion. Approval of federal notices based on rumors or political instincts does not protect families. In fact, they scared them.
The same goes for leucovorin. There are some interesting early research that suggests that in some cases of autism spectrum disorder, it may have hope. But, like in any other case, commitment is not proof. Premature elevation of therapy is for the court’s false hope. As a result, desperate families may seek unregulated treatment, often at a huge financial or emotional cost, sometimes at the expense of safety. Clinical research without any political institution requires patience and humility. It needs to protect the gravity of the political theater. Most importantly, science must not succumb to a press conference.
The deeper danger here is more than just about Tylenol or cabbage protein. It's about a pattern: presenting half of the science as the fact of settlement. Actually, we've been here before. In the early days of HIV in the 1980s, misinformation delayed testing, causing stigma and cost countless lives. Fast forward to Covid-19, the politicization of masks, vaccines and treatments has shattered our responses and deepened distrust and prolonged pain. Every time, the most vulnerable person pays the highest price. Every time, political noise drowns out the scientific truth.
I want to know – Public health is based on a fragile foundation: trust. Trust leaders to speak honestly. It is believed that the guidance will come from a lack of ideological evidence. Believe that these systems are designed to protect our health is driven by science and compassion, not public opinion and politics. This trust is built very slowly, but can break immediately.
Autism is a very complex situation. It is shaped by tapestries of genetics, environmental influences and social determinants. The answer to pretending to be an over-the-counter drug is not only misleading, but also insults millions of families to navigate in this situation every day. If we seriously address autism, we must invest in long-term reliable research, community support, and treatments supported by rigorous science. Family deserves more than just shortcuts and tones.
I understand the temptation of certainty. I understand the charm of simple answers facing overwhelming demands. But medicine has taught me the hard fact: shortcuts are almost always backfire. Patients are hurt, trust is eroded, and real progress is delayed. The role of physicians, scientists and public health advocates is and should always be to resist this temptation. Humble but firmly said, “We don't know yet. But we have to work hard until we do it.” This transparency is not a weakness. This is the advantage of integrity that our public health leaders should demand.
In my career, I have had the honor of working with communities that were destroyed by the pandemic, but also defined by resilience. They told me that science is more than just data points. This is the relationship between evidence and people who live on. Even if the answer is incomplete, this relationship requires honesty. It requires humility, even if the pressure of certainty is overwhelmed. It demands the courage to speak the truth to power, especially when power tries to surrender the truth to its political will.
The White House announcement is not just too early—it's dangerous. It puts politics ahead of science and endangers the trust that public health depends on. We have to do better. Our patients deserve better. Our family deserves better. Our country should be better.
Because when politics distorts science, there are few politicians who pay the price. It's a patient. It's the parents. It's a child. With that in mind, you can decide whether to trust sound science or just tone.
Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Tyler B.
This article passed Mixed Influencer program. Anyone can post a view on MedCity News' healthcare business and innovation through MedCity Remacence. Click here to learn how.
