Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton faced a harsh critique from the conservative Wall Street Journal editorial board on Wednesday evening regarding his lawsuit against the manufacturer of Tylenol. The suit stems from Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s unsubstantiated claims that taking Tylenol during pregnancy causes autism.
The editorial board argued that Paxton’s actions embody everything the conservative movement typically opposes about liberal trial lawyers—namely, targeting businesses under “dubious” pretenses to make a political statement. They highlighted Paxton’s own words: “By holding Big Pharma accountable for poisoning our people, we will help Make America Healthy Again.”
However, the board countered this by pointing out that the “people” Paxton claims to represent are actually his friends and donors in the plaintiff bar. They note that the claim linking acetaminophen—the main active ingredient in Tylenol—to autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) if taken during pregnancy was already rejected in federal multi-district litigation in 2023. Instead of federal court, Paxton chose to bring these claims under Texas law in state court.
The lawsuit, filed against Kenvue (maker of Tylenol) and its former parent company Johnson & Johnson, notably omits that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has periodically reviewed evidence concerning acetaminophen’s neurodevelopmental risks over the past decade. The FDA repeatedly determined that there was no demonstrated causal link strong enough to warrant changes to the drug’s safety label.
The editorial board warned that adding a safety warning based on flimsy evidence could create new risks, such as deterring pregnant women from using a painkiller and fever reducer when needed. In fact, there is stronger evidence associating autism with untreated fevers during pregnancy than with Tylenol.
Despite this, the board criticized Paxton for apparently believing that women and courts should take orders from Mr. Kennedy. His litigation quotes “alarmist and unscientific statements” by the Health and Human Services Secretary, the editorial noted.
In conclusion, the Wall Street Journal editorial board branded Paxton as “a valet for the trial bar out to soak business for political gain and campaign donations.” They argued that his anti-Tylenol lawsuit is yet another reason why Texas Republicans should think twice before supporting his bid for the U.S. Senate.
https://www.rawstory.com/ken-paxton-tylenol/
