AMA president says no studies show paracetamol use in pregnancy causes autism
Danielle McMullen, the president of the Australian Medical Association (AMA), said this morning there are no studies showing paracetamol use in pregnancy causes autism.
McMullen spoke to RN Breakfast following US president Donald Trump’s assertion that the popular painkiller was linked to autism – even though it is widely considered a safe option to treat pain and fever during pregnancy.
McMullen said:
There are no studies showing that paracetamol use in pregnancy causes autism. There have been some studies showing what we call an association between paracetamol use and autism in children, but there’s also been really large studies showing that there’s no association. And it’s important to remember that association doesn’t mean cause.
It could be that there’s a whole range of things that happened during pregnancies, and one of those was that the pregnant mother took paracetamol, but it also could be that she had a fever or there were genetic factors.
In fact, in autism, it’s most likely that autism is linked with genetic factors as its primary driver, but we really don’t know the full cause of autism.
AMA president Dr Danielle McMullen. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAPShare
Updated at 23.35 CEST
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AMA president urges Australians to take health advice from doctors, researchers and the medical community
Danielle McMullen, the president of the Australian Medical Association, stressed that paracetamol has been deemed by the TGA to be safe to use in pregnancy, although “of course like all medications we try to use it as little as possible when pregnant”.
The advice here in Australia sill is that paracetamol is a reasonable option and safe option for pregnant women to use.
McMullen went on to stress that Australians should continue to take medical advice from experts. She told ABC News this morning:
Like we did as Australia during the pandemic, we really took strong health advice from doctors, from researchers, and from that medical community and our regulator. So I’d encourage Australians to still do the same.
Our chief health officers and medical officers are medical practitioners, and trained in analysing these studies and weighing up the pros and cons and translating that into information that’s understandable by the general public. So, really encourage people to talk to their doctors in terms of listening to health advice for our health officers and health ministers here to be listening to that health advice.
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Qantas flight rapidly descends, returns to Darwin in ‘unsettling experience’ for passengers
A Qantas flight from Darwin to Cairns rapidly descended yesterday after a pressurisation warning light went off shortly after take off, causing an “unsettling experience” for passengers, the airline said.
The flight, QF1889, was operated by Alliance Aviation and departed Darwin airport shortly after 6.30am on Monday. After about 20 minutes, the plane rapidly descended more than 6,000m in about six minutes, according to flight data.
The plane was then diverted back to Darwin. Qantas said in a statement:
The pilots received a pressurisation warning light shortly after take off on Monday morning and followed standard operating procedures.
We understand this might have been an unsettling experience for our customers and want to thank them for their patience and understanding.
The aircraft will be inspected by engineers before returning to service.
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AMA president says no studies show paracetamol use in pregnancy causes autism
Danielle McMullen, the president of the Australian Medical Association (AMA), said this morning there are no studies showing paracetamol use in pregnancy causes autism.
McMullen spoke to RN Breakfast following US president Donald Trump’s assertion that the popular painkiller was linked to autism – even though it is widely considered a safe option to treat pain and fever during pregnancy.
McMullen said:
There are no studies showing that paracetamol use in pregnancy causes autism. There have been some studies showing what we call an association between paracetamol use and autism in children, but there’s also been really large studies showing that there’s no association. And it’s important to remember that association doesn’t mean cause.
It could be that there’s a whole range of things that happened during pregnancies, and one of those was that the pregnant mother took paracetamol, but it also could be that she had a fever or there were genetic factors.
In fact, in autism, it’s most likely that autism is linked with genetic factors as its primary driver, but we really don’t know the full cause of autism.
AMA president Dr Danielle McMullen. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAPShare
Updated at 23.35 CEST
Good morning, Nick Visser here to take over for Martin Farrer. Let’s dive in.
ShareTom McIlroy
PM says recognition of Palestinian state means ‘real hope for a place they can call home’
Anthony Albanese says Gaza “is in the grip of a humanitarian catastrophe”. He said:
For this, the Israeli government must accept its share of responsibility.
Tens of thousands of civilians have been killed. Desperate people, including children, have been denied vital aid.
Aid workers have been killed trying to deliver humanitarian assistance, including Australian Zomi Frankcom. And journalists have been killed trying to bring the truth to light.
Zomi Frankcom. Photograph: World Central Kitchen/WCK.org/PA
The prime minister has called on the world to choose a different path in the Middle East conflict, and received applause when he said Australia had recognised Palestine this week. Albanese went on:
In recognising Palestine, Australia recognises the legitimate and long held aspirations of the Palestinian people.
That means more than a seat, a voice and a vote in the councils of the world. It means real hope for a place they can call home.
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Anthony Albanese addresses UN conference on two-state solution
Anthony Albanese is speaking at a special conference on the two-state solution for the Middle East, his first address to the United Nations in New York.
The prime minister has joined the event hosted by French president Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Arabia.
The international community’s vision for a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, always encompassed two states.
A state of Israel and a state of Palestine. Living side by side, within internationally recognised borders. And recognising each other’s right to live in peace and security.
Eight decades ago, those hopes for peace were consumed by conflict.
That has been the grim pattern of the years.
Opportunities not taken. Compromises rejected.
Good faith, betrayed. A cycle of violence and terror that has crushed generations.
Albanese says Australia joins with countries calling for the hostages to be returned immediately.
Anthony Albanese speaks during a United Nations Summit on Palestinians at UN headquarters. Photograph: Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 23.03 CEST
Tom McIlroy
Indonesia’s president implores all countries to recognise Palestinian statehood
Indonesia’s president, Prabowo Subianto, says countries recognising Palestinian statehood “have taken a step on the right side of history.”
Speaking at the United Nations in New York, Subianto called on countries yet to recognise statehood to do so.
“History does not stand still,” he told a special conference on the two-state solution hosted by Saudi Arabia and France.
We must recognise Palestine now. We must stop the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
Ending the war must be our utmost priority.
We must overcome hatred and fear. We must overcome suspicion. We must achieve the peace that is necessary for the human family.
Prabowo says Indonesia is ready to play its part in the journey towards peace, including providing peace keeping forces.
The president’s speech ran overtime and the microphone was cut but he implored countries to act.
“Peace now, peace immediately. We need peace.”
Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto addresses the United Nations. Photograph: Yuki Iwamura/APShare
Updated at 23.06 CEST
Henry Belot
Monique Ryan quits parliament’s sports club over gambling lobby links, describing it as ‘influence by stealth’
Crossbench MP Monique Ryan has quit federal parliament’s sports club hours after it was listed as an official lobbyist group with clients in the gambling, alcohol and fossil fuel industries.
The Australian Parliament Sports Club was registered on the government’s lobbyist register on Monday, days after Guardian Australia reported concerns about its sponsorship from groups lobbying the government on policy.
The club allows companies to pay an annual membership fee in return for access to multiple social and formal events, which are regularly attended by federal politicians. Previously the company run by the club’s chief executive, Sports Hydrant, was listed on the lobbyist register.
The club has rejected claims its games are anything other than a chance for politicians and staff to relax and exercise and insist all rules have been followed. But Ryan said it provided its corporate members a chance to build “influence by stealth”:
To paraphrase Groucho Marx, I’m not signing up for any parliamentary sports club which serves up gambling industry lobbying with its early morning basketball games. I’m resigning from the club today.
The club’s registration has also drawn criticism from crossbench MPs Sophie Scamps, Allegra Spender, Kate Chaney, David Pocock and Helen Haines, who pointed out the prime minister’s position as the club’s chair.
While Australians wait for the government to take serious action on gambling harm, the Australian Parliamentary Sports Club – chaired by the prime minister himself – is acting on behalf of clients that include the gambling industry.
Last week, the club said it does not lobby on behalf of any of its corporate members. The prime minister’s office has previously been contacted for comment.
Independent Member for Kooyong, Monique Ryan: ‘I’m not signing up for any parliamentary sports club which serves up gambling industry lobbying with its early morning basketball games.’ Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAPShare
Butler seeks urgent advice on paracetamol safety after Trump makes claim
Kelly Burke
Health minister Mark Butler has called on the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) to provide urgent advice on the safety of taking paracetamol during pregnancy, following suggestions – without evidence – by US president Donald Trump that the popular painkiller is linked to autism.
Butler urged pregnant women to seek medical advice before discontinuing taking the drug which is also used to treat fever, which can lead to serious complications during pregnancy, until the TGA had a chance to look at the report Trump had alluded to.
Paracetamol is considered a safe option to treat pain or fever during pregnancy, and is widely recommended by doctors for short-term use.
This is a very widely used drug as everyone knows, and we want to make sure that we look very closely at any announcement from the US, particularly if it comes through the Food and Drug Administration, the FDA.
We’ll look at it very closely, our TGA works very closely with the FDA obviously and I want to make sure that we have advice for pregnant women in particular, very quickly.
During a speech at a Charlie Kirk memorial service on Sunday US time, Trump suggested he and his health secretary Robert F Kennedy would make an important announcement in the Oval Office on Monday, local time, about a link between Tylenol, a paracetamol brand popular in the US, and autism.
The report is expected to recommend taking leucovorin, a form of vitamin B.
“I think you’re going to find it to be amazing,” Trump said. “I think we found an answer to autism.”
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Updated at 23.25 CEST
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then Nick Visser will be in charge.
We’ll be bringing you all the news from New York, where the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, is to address a UN meeting on Palestine.
Plus, health minister Mark Butler has called on the medical watchdog to provide urgent advice on the safety of taking paracetamol during pregnancy following suggestions by US president Donald Trump that the popular painkiller is linked to autism. More coming up.
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