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Too late. The damage has been done and the truth doesn't matter. We're gonna have people saying Tylenol causes Autism/ADHD for at least another 5 years.

dylan604 1y ago
And the company cannot sue for libel as SCOTUS has already stated that POTUS is immune as long it was part of official acts. The thing I don't know enough about is if they meant for suing in the courts while still allowing for Congress the ability granted them by the Constitution to impeach/convict/remove. That was Trump's position as the only way to hold POTUS accountable, which goes to explain why he is so worried about keeping control of both chambers. What happens after his term doesn't matter has he has immunity from SCOTUS if Congress does nothing.
- gizmo686 1y ago
  The recent immunity decision isn't particularly relevant to civil suits. Presidents have had civil immunity since Mississippi vs Johnson (1867), which was reaffirmed in Nixon vs Fitzgerald (1982). Barr v. Matteo (1959) is probably most on point here; providing immunity from libel for statements made by government officials as part of their job.
- nickthegreek 1y ago
  you target rfk jr, not trump.
bryanlarsen 1y ago
I hope we're so lucky that it's only 5 years. Wakefield's "study" was published in 1998 and it's still widely believed.
Freedom2 1y ago
5? That number is far too low - even here on HN we have people genuinely commenting that vaccines directly cause autism.
daft_pink 1y ago
The underlying issue is that there is an unsatisfying risk reward ratio. Taking Tylenol doesn’t have a huge benefit, but severe autism is a catastrophe. Even though the causation is not proven, correlation might give you pause to have such a catastrophic result. There are a lot of people who are not parents discussing this, but as a parent, I don’t think I would let my wife take tylenol during pregnancy.
- Sohcahtoa82 1y ago
  > Even though the causation is not proven, correlation might give you pause to have such a catastrophic result. You would have a valid point if there was a correlation. There is no correlation between Tylenol and autism and ADHD.
  - daft_pink 1y ago
    I think there is arguably a correlation based on the following, but no one has shown a causal link. I don't think it's unreasonable to make the statement that some studies have found a correlation or association, but no causal link: https://www.mountsinai.org/about/newsroom/2025/mount-sinai-study-supports-evidence-that-prenatal-acetaminophen-use-may-be-linked-to-increased-risk-of-autism-and-adhd https://www.mountsinai.org/about/newsroom/2025/mount-sinai-s... https://hsph.harvard.edu/news/using-acetaminophen-during-pregnancy-may-increase-childrens-autism-and-adhd-risk/ https://hsph.harvard.edu/news/using-acetaminophen-during-pre...
  - unparagoned 1y ago
    Even this study shows there is correlation.
Tadpole9181 1y ago
Speaking of "too late... damage done" - isn't it strange how Kimberly-Clark bought Kenvue (Tylenol) right after RFK Jr and Trump started saying Tylenol causes autism, hurting sales and dropping stock value? And now RFK Jr is saying there's no link? I can't wait to find out how many tens of millions of Trump and Ivanka and Baron Coin they bought, and for nothing to be ever done about it.

dylan604 1y ago

And the company cannot sue for libel as SCOTUS has already stated that POTUS is immune as long it was part of official acts. The thing I don't know enough about is if they meant for suing in the courts while still allowing for Congress the ability granted them by the Constitution to impeach/convict/remove. That was Trump's position as the only way to hold POTUS accountable, which goes to explain why he is so worried about keeping control of both chambers. What happens after his term doesn't matter has he has immunity from SCOTUS if Congress does nothing.

gizmo686 1y ago
The recent immunity decision isn't particularly relevant to civil suits. Presidents have had civil immunity since Mississippi vs Johnson (1867), which was reaffirmed in Nixon vs Fitzgerald (1982). Barr v. Matteo (1959) is probably most on point here; providing immunity from libel for statements made by government officials as part of their job.
nickthegreek 1y ago
you target rfk jr, not trump.

bryanlarsen 1y ago

I hope we're so lucky that it's only 5 years. Wakefield's "study" was published in 1998 and it's still widely believed.

Freedom2 1y ago

5? That number is far too low - even here on HN we have people genuinely commenting that vaccines directly cause autism.

daft_pink 1y ago

The underlying issue is that there is an unsatisfying risk reward ratio. Taking Tylenol doesn’t have a huge benefit, but severe autism is a catastrophe. Even though the causation is not proven, correlation might give you pause to have such a catastrophic result. There are a lot of people who are not parents discussing this, but as a parent, I don’t think I would let my wife take tylenol during pregnancy.

Sohcahtoa82 1y ago
> Even though the causation is not proven, correlation might give you pause to have such a catastrophic result. You would have a valid point if there was a correlation. There is no correlation between Tylenol and autism and ADHD.
- daft_pink 1y ago
  I think there is arguably a correlation based on the following, but no one has shown a causal link. I don't think it's unreasonable to make the statement that some studies have found a correlation or association, but no causal link: https://www.mountsinai.org/about/newsroom/2025/mount-sinai-study-supports-evidence-that-prenatal-acetaminophen-use-may-be-linked-to-increased-risk-of-autism-and-adhd https://www.mountsinai.org/about/newsroom/2025/mount-sinai-s... https://hsph.harvard.edu/news/using-acetaminophen-during-pregnancy-may-increase-childrens-autism-and-adhd-risk/ https://hsph.harvard.edu/news/using-acetaminophen-during-pre...
- unparagoned 1y ago
  Even this study shows there is correlation.

Tadpole9181 1y ago

Speaking of "too late... damage done" - isn't it strange how Kimberly-Clark bought Kenvue (Tylenol) right after RFK Jr and Trump started saying Tylenol causes autism, hurting sales and dropping stock value? And now RFK Jr is saying there's no link? I can't wait to find out how many tens of millions of Trump and Ivanka and Baron Coin they bought, and for nothing to be ever done about it.