the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS) favors disclosing to patients a “highly plausible” relationship between abortion and increased risk of breast cancer. AAPS executive director Jane Orient, MD said: “The AAPS believes that patients have the right to give or withhold fully informed consent before undergoing medical treatment. This includes notification of potential adverse effects. While there is a difference of medical opinion concerning the abortion-breast cancer link, there is a considerable volume of evidence supporting this link, which is, moreover, highly plausible. We believe that a reasonable person would want to be informed of the existence of this evidence before making her decision.” Karen Malec, pres of the Coalition On Abortion-Breast Cancer: “The coalition is grateful to the AAPS for taking a pro-information position on the ABC research. Women have a right to be autonomous, especially when it comes to life or death choicesÂ…We encourage all medical groups and the cancer establishment to take a pro-information stand. In particular, we challenge the National Cancer Institute, the American Medical Association, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists to discontinue their pro-censorship practices by offering women an honest evaluation of the research. Censorship has contributed to a public health catastrophe in the U.S.” Research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1996 reported a 23% risk elevation among American women procuring abortions. Significantly, Newcomb et al. found that relative risk increased with age at diagnosis.
[1] Malec published an article in the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons during the summer, “The Abortion-Breast Cancer Link: How Politics Trumped Science and Informed Consent.” She discussed widespread scientific misconduct and efforts to conceal the research during the last half century. [2] Five medical groups say that abortion is one of the causes of breast cancer. [3] [1. Newcomb et al. (1996) JAMA 275:283-7; 2. Available at: www.jpands.org/vol8no2/malec; 3. National Physicians Center for Family Resources, CMA, American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Polycarp Research Institute, Breast Cancer Prevention Institute. http://www.abortionbreastcancer.com/press_releases/031103/index.htm]
[3Nov03 Pro-Life E-News <[email protected]; COALITION ON ABORTION/BREAST CANCER – Press Release, 1-877-803-0102 www.AbortionBreastCancer.com; PLE-news, #284, 4Nov03]