Trump's Pregnancy Pain Advice Sparks Medical Misogyny Row
US President Donald Trump sparked controversy recently when he advised women to 'tough it out' regarding pain during pregnancy, shifting blame onto women and displaying medical misogyny. Meanwhile, governments and media outlets are working to dismantle barriers to quality healthcare for women, particularly in relation to pain and reproductive health issues.
Trump's comments, made in October 2024, targeted paracetamol/acetaminophen use during pregnancy. He falsely claimed it increases autism risk in children, contradicting expert guidance from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the German BfArM. This recommendation frames the issue as a maternal-foetal conflict, ignoring the fact that the mother and foetus' interests are intrinsically linked.
Medical experts have criticised Trump's claims as dangerous and poorly informed. Researchers have shown that the recommendations are politicised interpretations of weaker medical studies. The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists' recommendations for acetaminophen use in pregnancy remain unchanged.
Trump's rhetoric has eroded trust between pregnant patients and their physicians, preventing doctors from providing crucial education that promotes healthier births. This is concerning, given that medical misogyny is common, with 2 out of 3 women in Australia reporting experiences of discrimination in healthcare.
Trump's advice to pregnant women regarding acetaminophen use is not supported by medical evidence and may cause harm. It exemplifies medical misogyny and undermines trust in healthcare providers. Meanwhile, efforts to address women's pain and reproductive health issues are ongoing, aiming to dismantle gendered and racial barriers to quality healthcare.
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