Congressmen Criticized for Denying Abortion-Breast Cancer Link

National   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Aug 19, 2003   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Congressmen Criticized for Denying Abortion-Breast Cancer Link

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
August 19, 2003

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — The Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer, a pro-life group that educates about the link between abortion and breast cancer, is criticizing members of Congress who are denying the deadly link. They have written a "misleading report" the group says, that "falsely accuses the Bush administration of perverting science for political ends."

In March 2002, the National Cancer Institute’s web site contained misleading information alleging that researchers found evidence of report bias in studies showing the abortion-breast cancer link. The site also confused the effects of miscarriage and abortion on breast cancer rates.

Upon learning of the error, Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson directed the agency to remove the information.

In October 2002, Waxman’s group wrote to Thompson and demanded that the web page be put back online.

Pro-abortion Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) and other pro-abortion members of Congress recently authored a report titled "Politics and Science in the Bush Administration." Their report bashes the Bush administration for removing the erroneous information from the NCI web site.

Karen Malec, president of the Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer, says Waxman and his colleagues "have their hands in the pockets of the abortion industry."

"They’re running scared because science isn’t on their side," Malec explains. "Scientists can’t disprove the biological explanation for an ABC link, and five medical organizations recognize a causal relationship."

Malec says they collaborated behind the scenes to ensure that no comprehensive review and debate on the research would take place at the NCI workshop in February. The meeting was criticized by pro-life groups when all of the panelists denied the link and a minority report submitted by Dr. Joel Brind, one of the leading researchers about the link, was given little attention.

During the Clinton administration, the agency began its denial of the abortion-breast cancer link. In 1999, NCI declared there was no proof of an ABC link, although 26 out of 32 studies reported risk elevations and the agency paid for at least part of most of the American research.

Those who signed onto the pro-abortion report criticizing the Bush administration include: Representatives Henry A. Waxman (D-CA), Tom Lantos (D-CA), Major R. Owens (D-NY), Towns (D-NY), Paul E. Kanjorski (D-PA), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD), Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH), Danny K. Davis (D-IL), John F. Tierney (D-MA), Wm. Lacy Clay (D-MO), Diane E. Watson (D-CA), Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Linda T. Sanchez (D-CA), C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Jim Cooper (D-TN), and Chris Bell (D-TX).