Eight medical groups have recognized that abortion increases a woman's risk of developing breast cancer. Twenty-eight of 37 worldwide studies have linked induced abortion with breast cancer. This dangerous link was first suspected back in 1957, and recent studies continue to report the life-threatening risk.
Yet in the last several months, Glamour magazine has twice attempted to deny such a link to its readers. Its most recent effort is a May 2006 article, "The New Lies About Women's Health" by Brian Alexander (WARNING: Photo of rear female nudity). What medical personnel does Glamour cite for its article? People such as Dr. Herb Brown (.pdf file), who has been medical director at Planned Parenthood of San Antonio. Geesh. Conflict of interest, anyone?
(Glamour also cites Harvard's Marcia Angell, who recently penned a Los Angeles Times op-ed in favor of California's physician-assisted suicide bill. (In the article, she claims, "Physician-assisted suicide is one of the religious right's signature issues, used mainly as a wedge in the battle against abortion rights. It lets foes of abortion claim that their commitment to life is absolute and has nothing to do with women's rights." Ugh.))
Is Glamour potentially harming female readers by hiding the truth from them? It appears so.
Karen Malec, president of the Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer, has challenged Glamour to a debate on this important women's health issue. For several years, Malec has spoken passionately in alerting and educating women about this serious risk. (Here (.pdf file) is a journal article by Malec in the Summer 2003 issue of the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons.)
In a radio interview last week on EWTN and Ave Maria Radio, Malec reported,
"They (Glamour magazine) are not telling women that eight medical groups recognize this link between abortion and breast cancer, and women have a right to know that ... We challenged Glamour magazine to a debate in our latest press release. We've received no response from them ... There has never been a debate on the abortion-breast cancer link, and that is because they know they would lose. The evidence for this is overwhelming. Privately, scientists admit that there is a link between abortion and breast cancer ... They are worried about losing their government grant money. They're worried about the loss of the perks of their job, such as their ability to get up and speak at public meetings and that sort of thing."
The presence of a wide and pervasive liberal media bias is well attested; but here is a case in which journalistic bias could be putting women's lives in serious jeopardy.
