Recent medical research suggests a higher probability of ADHD and Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in children who took acetaminophen products early in life, or whose parent took them during pregnancy.
The affair is one of the hottest new trends in personal injury law, alongside mesothelioma and Camp Lejeune's water. Lawyers and marketing firms are paying top-dollar to solicit clients.
Produce lists of potential clients, or 'leads.'
Sell those lists to lawyers.
Law firms generally hope to:
Represent clients in court and recover damages from pharmaceutical companies and retailers.
Receive a portion of the damages as compensation for the legal legwork, if they win.
Pregnancy comes with all sorts of aches and pains, and Tylenol is one of the most popular painkillers in the world. For decades, acetaminophen products like Tylenol were marketed as safe to take during pregnancy. Doctors and government agencies agreed.
But new scientific research points to a link between Acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, and diagnoses of ADHD and Autistic Spectrum Disorder in children.
Law firms, and marketing agencies contracted by law firms, are paying top-dollar looking for clients.
Their ideal clients are people who took acetaminophen products while pregnant and/or gave acetaminophen products to young children, who then were diagnosed with ADHD or ASD.
The legal argument targets pharmaceutical companies and retailers who sell acetaminophen products. Lawyers argue these companies had an obligation to know and warn people about possible side-effects of the drug.
Isn't this all a bit controversial?
Some may find the lawsuits controversial as they imply ADHD and ASD are "injuries" suffered by children and families. They risk playing into a narrative that neurodivergence is a burden.
Regardless, parents of children with ADHD and ASD diagnoses may spend more on medication, counselling and specialized child care than other parents. If a parent has to stay home to provide full-time care, they can also sue for the opportunity cost of not working.
Lawyers hope to win compensation for these specific costs on behalf of their clients in the form of compensatory damages. They also seek punitive damages, which would further penalize the companies and encourage others to be more careful and considerate in the future.
A couple links to current research:
1. A pre-print published in October 2022. This document has not been properly peer reviewed yet, but it's very new so that is expected.
Acetaminophen Causes Neurodevelopmental Injury in Susceptible Babies and Children: No Valid Rationale for Controversy.
2. A peer-reviewed analysis by experts reviewing existing research. The experts look at 16 prior studies and conclude evidence exists for a correlation between acetaminophen and neurodivergence, but more research is necessary.
A Systematic Review of the Link Between Autism Spectrum Disorder and Acetaminophen: A Mystery to Resolve
