Overview
- Published on November 10, 2025, the BMJ analysis finds available evidence insufficient to show that in‑utero paracetamol exposure causes autism or ADHD.
- The authors rate many earlier observational studies as low or very low quality because of confounding factors such as maternal health and genetics.
- This umbrella review compiles prior systematic reviews rather than new primary research, providing the most comprehensive appraisal of the evidence.
- The findings counter recent claims by President Donald Trump and Health Minister Robert F. Kennedy Jr. urging pregnant women to avoid paracetamol.
- The WHO and clinical experts reaffirm paracetamol as the preferred painkiller in pregnancy, noting known fetal risks linked to aspirin and ibuprofen.