Truth, Trust and Autism: Leadership's Role in Correcting Harmful Narratives

Introduction

When a world leader claims to have found the cause of autism, the shockwaves spread quickly. President Donald Trump's recent announcement, suggesting links between paracetamol (Tylenol/acetaminophen) use in pregnancy and autism, has been condemned by health authorities, autism organisations, and scientific experts worldwide. Yet the damage of such misinformation is not only in its inaccuracy. It lies in the fear it generates for pregnant people, in the stigma it fuels against autistic people, and in the erosion of trust between families and professionals.

This article is not about one politician. It is about leadership — the kind of leadership that is urgently required across health, education, and social care to counter misinformation, support families, and reaffirm the dignity and rights of autistic people. Beyond Thrive writes this not as another echo of outrage, but as a call to action for leaders to provide the stability, clarity, and compassion that political leadership has failed to deliver.

"Leadership is not silence in the face of misinformation — it is the steady voice that re-anchors families in truth and dignity."

The Evidence: Where Science Really Stands

Across the UK, Europe, and internationally, medical regulators and scientific bodies have issued clear, consistent responses to President Trump's claims.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) confirmed on 23 September 2025 that "there is no evidence that taking paracetamol during pregnancy causes autism in children" (MHRA, 2025).

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) echoed this position, with Chief Medical Officer Steffen Thirstrup stating: "Paracetamol remains an important option to treat pain or fever in pregnant women … we have found no evidence that taking paracetamol during pregnancy causes autism in children" (EMA, 2025).

The Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists (RCOG) reassured pregnant people that paracetamol is still the recommended pain relief during pregnancy. Professor Ranee Thakar, President of RCOG, reminded the public that managing pain and fever is vital for both mother and baby (RCOG, 2025).

A Swedish registry study of 2.48 million children, published in JAMA in 2024, initially found small associations between paracetamol exposure and neurodevelopmental disorders. However, in more rigorous sibling-comparison analyses, these associations disappeared for autism and ADHD — providing no evidence of a causal link (Ahlqvist et al., 2024).

A 2025 systematic review (Prada et al.) noted some observational studies had suggested associations, but emphasised heterogeneity, bias, and confounding meant causation could not be established (Prada et al., 2025).

UK pregnancy charity Tommy's summarised: "There is absolutely no evidence to support this claim … Paracetamol is recommended if you need to take painkillers while you are pregnant" (Tommy's, 2025).

The scientific consensus is clear: occasional, clinically advised use of paracetamol in pregnancy remains safe. The greater danger lies in untreated fever or pain — both of which can pose risks to mother and foetus.

The Harm of Irresponsible Leadership

Misinformation at this level is not neutral. It carries consequences.

Health risks: If pregnant people avoid paracetamol for fear of harming their child, they risk unmanaged pain and untreated fever — both medically harmful.

Stigma and blame: By implying preventability, Trump's statement risks fuelling guilt for mothers and perpetuating the myth that autism is a tragedy to be avoided.

Erosion of trust: Parents may distrust health professionals, refuse vaccines, or turn to unproven "cures."

Autism charities have spoken with urgency. The National Autistic Society said: "This is dangerous, it's anti-science and it's irresponsible … Painkillers do not cause autism and vaccines do not cause autism. Large-scale studies have shown there is no robust, scientific evidence to support this claim" (NAS, 2025).

In a joint statement, Autistica, Ambitious about Autism, and the NAS warned: "These claims are not only stigmatising, but they are a distraction and act as an impediment to progress" (Autistica et al., 2025).

"Mothers should never carry guilt for what science has not proven; autistic people should never bear shame for what stigma invents."

Leading with Values

For leaders in health, social care, and education, moments like this test our resolve. Facts alone are not enough; they must be communicated through a values-driven lens.

At Beyond Thrive, our values are simple:

Dignity — every autistic person's life has inherent worth.

Truth — evidence must be our foundation.

Compassion — families deserve reassurance, not blame.

Inclusion — autism is human diversity, not a defect.

Leaders must model these values consistently. To centre autistic voices, to affirm parents, and to resist blame narratives is not a soft option — it is the essence of ethical leadership.

Immediate Actions for Leaders — Today

Every leader can act now to reduce harm.

Health leaders

• Circulate MHRA, EMA, and NHS statements to clinical staff.

• Share Tommy's Q&A with midwives, GPs, and maternity units.

Education leaders

• Brief teachers: if children raise questions, respond without stigma.

• Reinforce inclusion messages for autistic pupils.

Social care leaders

• Train frontline staff to respond with empathy: "I can see this worries you. The evidence shows paracetamol remains safe when used as advised."

• Offer space for parents to express fears without judgement.

Commissioners and system leaders

• Fund autistic-led organisations to provide clear public messaging.

• Ensure community services have up-to-date myth-busting resources.

Immediate Leadership Checklist

• ✓ Share verified evidence from MHRA, EMA, NHS.

• ✓ Equip your staff with simple talking points.

• ✓ Provide safe spaces for families' concerns.

• ✓ Reframe discussions around rights and dignity, not causes.

Managing Conversations: Tools for Leaders

Confrontation rarely changes minds. Leaders need skills for navigating difficult conversations with staff, families, or colleagues doubling down on misinformation.

Start with empathy: "I can see this is frightening for you."

Ask questions: "Where did you hear that?" This surfaces context.

Offer reassurance: "The largest studies, including one with 2.4 million children, found no link when family factors are taken into account."

Redirect to rights: "The more important issue is making sure autistic people have support, dignity, and inclusion."

Conversation Tools for Leaders

• Begin with empathy, not correction.

• Explore context before giving facts.

• Use clear, trusted evidence.

• Shift focus from "causes" to rights, support, and quality of life.

Sustained Leadership: Tomorrow and Beyond

Beyond the immediate, leaders must build systems that can withstand misinformation.

Trust infrastructures: routine, open communication with families and communities.

Embed myth-busting capacity: supervision, reflective practice, ongoing training.

Cross-sector collaboration: health, education, social care sharing aligned messages.

Centre autistic voices: autistic organisations shaping communication and policy.

"Trust is built in conversations, not press releases — leaders must be present where doubt grows."

Reclaiming the Debate

The danger of misinformation is not just in false claims — it is in distracting us from what matters.

The real leadership question is not what causes autism, but how we uphold the rights of autistic people today. That means:

• Ending stigma.

• Ensuring inclusive education.

• Providing timely health and social care support.

• Supporting families without blame.

Autistic people and their families deserve leadership that refuses distraction and keeps dignity at the centre.

"The real leadership challenge is not fighting rumours — it is keeping dignity, rights, and inclusion at the centre of every decision."

Conclusion

President Trump's comments will pass. But the fear and stigma they unleash will linger unless leaders step in.

The science is clear: there is no causal link between paracetamol use in pregnancy and autism. The values are clear: autistic people deserve dignity, families deserve compassion, and pregnant people deserve evidence-based reassurance. The leadership required now is clear: steady, proactive, compassionate, and values-driven.

This is a moment for health, education, and social care leaders to show that leadership is not reactive outrage but constructive guidance. To stand alongside autistic people and families. To insist that trust, evidence, and dignity are stronger than misinformation.

References

Ahlqvist, V.H., et al. (2024). Association of Acetaminophen Use During Pregnancy With Risk of Neurodevelopmental Disorders. JAMA. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2817406

Autistica, Ambitious about Autism, Autism Alliance, NAS. (2025). Joint Statement on Trump Administration Claims. https://www.autistica.org.uk/news/trump-administration-joint-statement-september-25

EMA. (2025). Use of paracetamol during pregnancy unchanged in EU. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/news/use-paracetamol-during-pregnancy-unchanged-eu

LSHTM. (2025). Expert comment: Paracetamol use during pregnancy does not increase risk of autism. https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/newsevents/news/2025/expert-comment-paracetamol-use-during-pregnancy-does-not-increase-risk-autism

MHRA. (2025). Taking paracetamol during pregnancy remains safe; no evidence it causes autism. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/mhra-confirms-taking-paracetamol-during-pregnancy-remains-safe-and-there-is-no-evidence-it-causes-autism-in-children

National Autistic Society. (2025). Response to President Trump's announcement. https://www.autism.org.uk/what-we-do/news/response-to-president-trump-tylenol-and-vaccines

Prada, D., et al. (2025). Evaluation of the evidence on acetaminophen use during pregnancy and neurodevelopmental outcomes: systematic review. Environmental Health, 24(1). https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12940-025-01208-0

RCOG. (2025). Advice on paracetamol use in pregnancy. https://www.rcog.org.uk/news/the-royal-college-of-obstetricians-and-gynaecologists-issues-advice-for-pregnant-people-on-the-use-of-paracetamol-to-manage-fever-and-pain/

Tommy's. (2025). No evidence to support claims about paracetamol, pregnancy and autism. https://www.tommys.org/about-us/news-views/no-evidence-support-claims-about-paracetamol-pregnancy-and-autism