Government Announcement on Autism Should Revive Lawsuits Over Tylenol: Attorneys

‘A decision holding that a jury may not hear the same expert evidence that the executive branch credited will badly damage the public trust,’ they said.

Tylenol and acetaminophen tablets in a CVS store. Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP via Getty Images

The federal government’s new warning that taking Tylenol during pregnancy may lead to autism should prompt the revival of lawsuits from mothers who allege Tylenol caused their children’s autism or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), attorneys for the families said in a new filing.

Federal officials on Sept. 22 moved to update labeling for Tylenol and other drugs containing acetaminophen, which are used for pain and fever relief. Regulators said that “the use of acetaminophen by pregnant women may be associated with an increased risk of ... autism and ADHD in children.”