Washington, Sep 22 (AP) President Donald Trump, known for making bold statements, ventured into the realm of medical advice on Monday, despite not being a doctor. During a public appearance, Trump offered numerous pieces of advice concerning autism prevention, often lacking in concrete evidence.
In particular, Trump urged pregnant women to steer clear of Tylenol, a popular acetaminophen-based painkiller, contradicting the longstanding endorsement by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, which considers it safe during pregnancy. He also offered opinions on when painkillers should be administered to children.
Standing alongside Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a known vaccine skeptic, Trump stopped short of a complete rejection of vaccines. However, he proposed that essential immunizations either be postponed or administered as separate shots, despite scientific evidence debunking any association between vaccines and autism.
Trump further exaggerated the administration of vaccines meant to protect against multiple diseases, expressing concerns over what he considered excessive doses. "Don't let them pump your baby up with the largest pile of stuff you've ever seen in your life," he cautioned.
He went on to describe vaccine administration in hyperbolic terms, likening the process to injecting a horse. Trump inaccurately suggested that vaccines involve “a vat of 80 different vaccines,” which is a stark misrepresentation.
This event echoed past briefings from early in the coronavirus pandemic era, where Trump made numerous unverified claims, including a controversial suggestion about the potential for injecting disinfectants as a treatment method. While he later insisted that this was intended as a joke, Monday's delivery was serious in tone.
Trump also questioned the safety of the MMR vaccine, which guards against measles, mumps, and rubella, and recommended deferring hepatitis B vaccinations until age 12, against medical guidelines.
Emphasizing a supposed acetaminophen-autism link, Trump shouted, “Don't take Tylenol,” despite the manufacturer Kenvue refuting any connection and warning of potential harm from avoiding necessary treatments.
Though Trump, Kennedy, and administration health officials cited statistics, they failed to present new scientific findings. Trump acknowledged the potential scientific shortcomings of his claims, stating, “I'm just making these statements from me.” He credited his information to “common sense,” suggesting it might outweigh scientific consensus.
Many in the scientific community were critical, including Arthur Caplan from the New York University School of Medicine, who condemned the statements as "unsupported and wrong" and likened them to malpractice.
In advance of the autism discussion, Trump hinted at revealing newfound medical insights but stumbled over the pronunciation of acetaminophen. He reassured that there was "no downside" to his advice, though medical professionals caution that neglecting fevers during pregnancy can lead to serious complications.
Trump attributed any knowledge suppression to pharmaceutical companies and possibly doctors, asserting that his statements were based on “the information that we have.” He maintained his stance confidently, stating, “I'm making them out front, and I'm making them loud. And I'm making them strongly.” (AP)
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