Read Time: 4 min 22 sec | Reading Level: 8th Grade

U.S. NEWS

Doctor’s Orders

The White House is recommending new doctors’ recommendations.

Huh? Let’s back up.

In April, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released a survey that found autism is becoming more common. (A person with autism processes social cues and their five senses differently.) The White House promised to look into what is causing that increase.

On Monday, President Trump announced public health officials’ findings. They pointed the finger in a controversial direction: Tylenol taken during pregnancy.

Tylenol is the most commonly used pain reliever among pregnant women. It’s a brand name for the drug acetaminophen. As evidence connecting acetaminophen to autism, Mr. Trump pointed to Harvard’s recent analysis of 46 medical studies, including about 100,000 participants. That analysis found an “association” between pregnant women taking acetaminophen and their children having brain development challenges, including autism.

In response, Trump’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has new advice for doctors: don’t recommend Tylenol during pregnancy unless the patient has an “extremely high fever.”

Quite a few doctors disagree with this plan. They say other studies don’t show any link between acetaminophen and autism. They also argue that pregnant women leaving a fever untreated puts their babies at higher risk.

The FDA will be updating the labels on bottles of acetaminophen. But it’s still up to doctors to recommend what they think is best for their patients.

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RADIATE HOPE
Christians think of our bodies differently than the rest of the world because Jesus’s resurrection frees us from fearing death. When you’re anxious and unsure about how to care for your body, seek comfort and wisdom from your Creator.

“For it was you who created my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I will praise you because I have been remarkably and wondrously made. Your works are wondrous, and I know this very well.” 
Psalm 139:13-14 (CSB) (read full passage)

What do I want to make sure my kids know in light of this story?
When you hear conflicting information—especially around controversial topics—it’s wise to go back to the source.

In the news headlines and on social media, there’s a lot of “he said, she said” going on. When things seem unclear or confused, stop the game of telephone and go back to the beginning. In the case of Tylenol use, you can read the summaries from Harvard, the CDC, and others directly. If those are hard to understand, ask an expert you trust (Proverbs 15:22; 19:20).

The Bible’s way of saying this is “seek wisdom.” Go to an advisor who can lead you straight. And remember, wisdom is not just knowledge and cleverness—it begins with the fear of the Lord (Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 9:10).

What gospel lesson can be taught through this story?
Sometimes, our best efforts at information gathering still leave us short on confidence.

That’s an uncomfortable place to be. But it’s also part of being human. God is the only one who’s omniscient, and the limits on our understanding are by design. When your understanding falls short, trust the Creator whose knowledge is infinite—the Father who promises to take good care of you:

“The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the whole earth. He never becomes faint or weary; there is no limit to his understanding. He gives strength to the faint and strengthens the powerless. Youths may become faint and weary, and young men stumble and fall, but those who trust in the LORD will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not become weary, they will walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:28-31, CSB)

• Make a list of some of the biggest things you don’t understand. Are there any steps you could take to seek wisdom? How do you feel knowing that God understands those things and will take care of you?

• Memorize Psalm 111:10, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his instructions have good insight. His praise endures forever” (CSB).

• Confess your limits, worship your all-knowing, all-powerful Creator, and pray for those who are afraid, that they would put their hope in Jesus.

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