Opening Arguments Could Tylenol Sue Trump and RFK Jr. for Libel?
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Sep 26, 2025 Could Tylenol sue public figures for libel? The conversation reveals intriguing insights into sovereign immunity and defamation law. They weigh in on the FCC's pressure on Disney regarding free speech rights. Plus, a new fee could hit rural hospitals hard when hiring foreign doctors. In a personal twist, Janessa shares her journey to tackle a challenging bar exam in patent law, emphasizing the value of a STEM-legal background.
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Correlation Doesn’t Equal Causation
- Weak correlations between acetaminophen in pregnancy and autism likely reflect confounders, not causation.
- Maternal fever or other health factors probably explain observed associations better than the drug itself.
Medication Use Can Mask Underlying Causes
- Pregnant people take acetaminophen to treat fevers, which themselves can affect fetal development.
- Studies may be detecting the illness (or other factors) that led to medication use, not the medication effect.
Sovereign Immunity Blocks Lawsuits Against Officials
- Sovereign immunity largely blocks defamation suits against federal officials acting in official capacity.
- The Federal Tort Claims Act explicitly excludes libel and slander from its waiver, making monetary claims unlikely.