by Serwan Zangana
COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, generated an intense political and social conflict, and obviously, President Donald Trump did not play a role in comforting the public and bringing Democrats and Republicans together during such a horrific crisis. This global situation was politically weaponized in the U.S to the degree that it even divided Americans during such a perilous time in human history.
American politicians have been crossing their boundaries and intervening in every aspect of American lives. It is the era of dishonesty and manipulation that the majority of the politicians are mastering in controlling people’s emotion to maintain the control of American society.
The political interference in science and medical research can affect the conclusions of the studies and causes distrust of the public. Apparently, President Trump’s latest claims linking acetaminophen which is an active ingredient in Tylenol to autism as he advised pregnant women to avoid taking Tylenol has sparked a debate among both the medical experts and the public.
However, to learn about the link between Tylenol and autism and the accuracy of such a claim should depend on medical research aside from any political interference and biased research. Biased research can lead to an inaccurate conclusion that serves a specific purpose which can be a political or any other reason that delude the public.
After President Trump’s claim, groups of doctors and medical experts responded differently but all united that such a claim is not 100% accurate. Based on research, there is not enough links between autism and acetaminophen.
“There is no robust evidence or convincing studies to suggest there is any causal relationship, and any conclusions being drawn to the contrary are often motivated, under-evidenced and unsupported by the most robust methods,” Monique Botha, a social and developmental psychologist at Durham University, UK.
The World Health Organization (WHO) also did not support the President’s claim linking the use of Tylenol by pregnant women to autism, “The evidence remains inconsistent” the (WHO) said. The available studies do not provide any evidence of linking the two and medical communities across the world believe that there is no risk of taking Tylenol by pregnant women.
However, it is important to support more studies and research about the link between women using Tylenol during pregnancy and autism to uncover the risk of medications and protect both woman and children’s health, but to rely on politicians’ statements and medical advises is a risk per se because there is no place for politics in the medical field.
The government must provide tools and fund medical studies and research for better understating human health and issues and obtain ultimate evidence regarding the benefit and the risk of medications. The reasons for medical research are to brighten some dark areas of human health and answer questions about medical complications and deficiencies.
However, as COVID-19 became a controversial situation and established two definitions, liberal and conservative, for the pandemic and divided American people, the claim of the link between Tylenol and autism by President Trump should not divide American people. Establishing the scientific fact is based on medical research not the President’s claim.
