N Dakota court decision

WOMEN'S GROUP CONDEMNS NORTH DAKOTA SUPREME COURT DECISION, URGES MEDIA NOT TO ABANDON ITS ROLE AS WATCHDOG OF GOVERNMENT

The Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer condemns the decision of the North Dakota Supreme Court to dismiss the false advertising case of Amy Jo Kjolsrud against the Fargo based Red River Women's Clinic.  The clinic distributed a pamphlet claiming that medical research does not support a link between abortion and breast cancer.

The clinic circulated a revised pamphlet after the 1999 case was filed.  The pamphlet used an outdated 1996 National Cancer Institute (NCI) fact sheet.  The NCI asserted in 1999 that the evidence of a relationship was "inconsistent."  Yet, the pamphlet said, "The National Cancer Institute has stated, 'there is no evidence of a direct relation between breast cancer and either induced or spontaneous abortion.'"

The state's highest court alleged that the plaintiff did not have standing to sue.  However, state law says, "any person acting for the interests of itself, its members or the general public" may pursue an injunction to stop false advertising.

Karen Malec, president of the coalition declared, "The court's decision stripped women of their right to informed consent.  It gives abortion providers license to deceive women about the research with impunity.  Women will die and children will lose their mothers because the abortion industry is consistently pro-death."

A lower state court ruled in 2002 that the clinic could use statements from the NCI and the American Cancer Society which didn't recognize a causal relationship, even though 13 out of 15 U.S. studies (most of which were funded by the NCI at least in part) reported risk elevations by 2002.

Mrs. Malec urged the press "not to abandon its traditional role as watchdog of government."  She added, "The NCI and the cancer fundraising industry have deceived women about the existence of the research since 1957.  They're afraid to debate the research now because they know they'll lose.  The NCI is a corrupt agency, which must be investigated.  President Bush needs to clean house."

The Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer is an international women's organization founded to protect the health and save the lives of women by educating and providing information on abortion as a risk factor for breast cancer.