Biased Media Report Leads to Louisiana Withholding Abortion-Cancer Info 
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
November 22, 2004
Baton Rouge, LA (LifeNews.com) — A biased media report on the link between abortion and breast cancer has led to the state of Louisiana pulling a warning on the Department of Health web site informing women of the link.
The Associated Press was taken to task earlier this month for writing a biased news story claiming that women are "wrongly warned" and "aren’t told that scientific reviews have concluded there is no such risk" of contracting breast cancer because of an induced abortion.
According to Karen Malec, of the Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer, AP reporter Laura Meckler "intimidated" local Louisiana health department officials when conducting research for the article.
Meckler contacted them because Louisiana is one of a handful of states that informed women about the link between abortion and the deadly disease.
Bob Johannessen, spokesperson for the state Department of Health and Hospitals, confirmed earlier this month that the abortion-breast cancer information would be removed. He said it was originally included because of the "very, very strong pro-family, pro-life leaning" in the state.
"If there is scientific evidence, and it certainly appears there now is, we would certainly make the necessary changes in that brochure," Johannessen said, adding, "It’s incumbent on us as the health agency to make sure any information is factually correct. We don’t want to be misleading women who are making this important choice."
That Louisiana officials would bow to pressure from the media to remove the information concerns Malec, who says that seven medical and research groups agree that an abortion-breast cancer link exists.
"Women would have the right to know if only one medical group recognized a link," Malec said.
She indicated that Louisiana officials were given incorrect information by AP about a British study showing no link, despite numerous flaws in the study.
"Apparently, Louisiana health officials lack political courage," Malec argued. How many women must die and how many teenagers will unknowingly risk their lives for an optional procedure before the public realizes that women are being financially exploited by the abortion, the pharmaceutical and the cancer fundraising industries?"
Medical and research groups such as the National Physicians Center for Family Resources, Catholic Medical Association, American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Polycarp Research Institute, Breast Cancer Prevention Institute all recognize the abortion-breast cancer link.
A sixth group, the Christian Medical and Dental Association, has also issued a statement recognizing a link as has a seventh, the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons.
Sixteen out of 17 statistically significant studies conducted worldwide on abortion and breast cancer show an elevated risk and 13 out of 16 American studies report increased risks of contracting breast cancer as a result of an abortion.
Related web sites:
Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer – https://www.AbortionBreastCancer.com
