Taxpayer-funded religious counseling services lie to women about abortion risks

[Sauron]

One more reason why religion should be kept out of govt.

It's also an object lesson on why taxpayer funds definitely should not be supporting religious agendas masquerading as science:

Rawstory:

Congressman: Pregnancy crisis centers lie to teens about abortion

RAW STORY
Published: Monday July 17, 2006


A new study released by Congressman Henry Waxman (D-CA) finds that federally-funded pregnancy resource centers often mislead pregnant teens about the medical risks of abortion, RAW STORY has learned.

Investigators, who called into 25 such centers posing as pregnant 17-year-olds, were often told by the centers that abortion leads to breast cancer, infertility, and mental illness.

The new report attempts to assess the scientific accuracy of the information they provide.

Waxman's report claims that 20 of the 23 centers reached by the investigators (87%) provided false or misleading information about the health effects of abortion. They were unable to reach the remaining two.

According to the report, the centers provided false and misleading information about a link between abortion and breast cancer. Despite what Waxman calls a medical consensus that induced abortion does not cause an increased risk of breast cancer, eight centers told the caller that having an abortion would in fact increase her risk.

One center said that "all abortion causes an increased risk of breast cancer in later years," while another told the caller that an abortion would "affect the milk developing in her breasts" and that the risk of breast cancer increased by as much as 80% following an abortion.

The centers also allegedly provided false and misleading information about the effect of abortion on future fertility. Abortions in the first trimester, using the most common abortion procedure, do not pose an increased risk of infertility. However, seven centers told the caller that having an abortion could hurt her chances of having children in the future. One center said that damage from abortion could lead to "many miscarriages" or to "permanent damage" so "you wouldn't be able to carry," telling the caller that this is "common" and happens "a lot."

What's more, the centers allegedly provided false and misleading information about the mental health effects of abortion. Waxman's office points to research that shows that significant psychological stress after an abortion does occur, but is no more common than after birth. However, thirteen centers told the caller that the psychological effects of abortion are severe, long-lasting, and common. One center said that the suicide rate in the year after an abortion "goes up by seven times." Another center said that post-abortion stress suffered by women having abortions is "much like" that seen in soldiers returning from Vietnam and "is something that anyone who's had an abortion is sure to suffer from."

Under the Bush Administration, pregnancy resource centers, which are also called "crisis pregnancy centers," have received over $30 million in federal funding.

[LadyShea]

Worse than that, I have been following reports of women being actually harassed by these so called crisis pregnancy centers as well.

They are evil.

[beyelzu]

damn, i agree that they are evil, but i am still surprised by the number of people that think lying for jesus is a good thing.

[Clutch Munny]

Horrifying and complete unsurprising stuff from the American Taliban.

But...

Waxman's report claims that 20 of the 23 centers reached by the investigators (87%) provided false or misleading information about the health effects of abortion. They were unable to reach the remaining two.

I did the arithmetic three times, and it didn't add up either time.

[Sauron]

Originally Posted by Clutch Munny

Horrifying and complete unsurprising stuff from the American Taliban.

But...

I did the arithmetic three times, and it didn't add up either time.

20 / 23 = 0.86956

[Clutch Munny]

Waxman's report claims that 20 of the 23 centers reached by the investigators (87%) provided false or misleading information about the health effects of abortion. They were unable to reach the remaining two.

[Sauron]

Originally Posted by Clutch Munny

Investigators, who called into 25 such centers posing as pregnant 17-year-olds,

25 centers contacted
23 responded or were contact-able, and of those
20 gave false information (87%)
2 were unable to be reached

[Ari]

There were 25 centers called. The fact they were unable to reach two of them is interesting as well. Probably on a tax paid lunch break.

All of this isn't surprising, the people handing out the money don't seem to have a clue who they give it to beyond the sound bite blurb. In california it was found a scientology based 'anti-drug' group was given money to teach their program at a couple schools.

There seem to be a number of people who seem to think lying is ok as long as it leads people to the "right" choice or understanding.

[godfry n. glad]

They're not saying anything about the Sion Priory, y'know.

[Clutch Munny]

Originally Posted by Sauron

Investigators, who called into 25 such centers posing as pregnant 17-year-olds,

25 centers contacted
23 responded or were contact-able, and of those
20 gave false information (87%)
2 were unable to be reached

Yep, that'll explain it.