US appeals court reverses dismissal of Tylenol cases – JURIST
A US federal appeals court on Monday reversed a trial judge’s decision to dismiss lawsuits against Kenvue, the maker of Tylenol. That trial effectively revived hundreds of cases brought by families who claim their children developed autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) after the women took Tylenol during pregnancy.
The 64-page decision by the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit concluded that the district court exceeded its discretion by excluding expert testimony. He also noted that since the decision, “many studies relevant to this issue have been published” and it would only make sense “to invite the parties and their experts to address those new studies.”
Lawsuits alleging that Tylenol causes autism or ADHD when taken during pregnancy were filed in 2022. However, the White House did not release an official statement on the matter until September 2025. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt DECLARING:
The Trump administration doesn’t believe popping more pills is always the answer to better health. There’s growing evidence finding a link between acetaminophen (Tylenol) use during pregnancy and autism — and that’s why the Administration is boldly issuing this new health guidance.
President Trump has too spoken on the matter personally, saying that there is “no downside” to avoiding Tylenol during pregnancy and that “Tylenol is not good.”
Tylenol is considered one of the safest drugs to take during pregnancy if taken properly, according to American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), Association for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) AND American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Even with additional studies, there continues to be no solid scientific evidence for a link between autism and taking Tylenol during pregnancy.
The decision will go before Judge Denise Cote in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York.
