Freedom To Misrepresent

Facts can be so inconvenient. Washington Post (07.18.06):

"Federally funded 'pregnancy resource centers' are incorrectly telling women that abortion results in an increased risk of breast cancer, infertility and deep psychological trauma, a minority congressional report charged yesterday. The report said that 20 of 23 federally funded centers contacted by staff investigators requesting information about an unintended pregnancy were told false or misleading information about the potential risks of an abortion." Pregnancy Centers Found to Give False Information on Abortion

"The pregnancy resource centers, which are often affiliated with antiabortion religious groups, have received about $30 million in federal money since 2001, according to the report, requested by Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D - CA30)." "A spokeswoman for one of the two large networks of pregnancy resource centers, Sterling-based Care Net, said that the report is 'a routine attack on us that's nothing new.'" Huh. So being called out for providing incorrect and inaccurate information is a "routine attack"? But of course. Sounds like these guys are rather used to it. Someone named Molly Ford from someplace called Care Net said Care Net has "'many studies that show significant medical problems associated with abortion.'" On the other hand, the studies Ms. Ford cites "are at odds with mainstream medical opinion. An expert panel of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), for instance, concluded in 2003 that an 'abortion is not associated with an increase in breast cancer.' The experts said their conclusion was 'well established' by the evidence."