SPA has issued a joint statement with the American Society of Anesthesiologists, Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine in response to the article, “Association Between Epidural Analgesia During Labor and Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorders in Offspring,” a new retrospective database study published in JAMA Pediatrics on October 12, 2020.   This article does not provide credible scientific evidence that labor epidurals for pain relief cause autism, and it fails to address the numerous other causes of autism that do exist.  SPA is dedicated to the safety and health of pediatric patients of all ages and will continue to work with these and other organizations to foster research and education in all aspects of pediatric care.  The full joint statement in response to this article can be read here:

“Labor Epidurals Do Not Cause Autism; Safe for Mothers and Infants, say Anesthesiology, Obstetrics, and Pediatric Medical Societies”