Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Abstination For A Fundified Nation

AllTheStupidThatFits
WingnuttiaWorldVille



Doesn't work?

Doesn't matter.

Why?

Because you can always invoke a fanciful bit of self-delusional flim-flammery known as 'Second Virginity'.

All of which is fully explained in a new, shiny-smooth abstinence-only magazine called 'Just For Girls' from the very fine folks at the 'Human Life Alliance'.

Now, most of the time stupid is just that.

But sometimes it is downright dangerous, like when it makes the following statement:

"There is also an increased risk of breast cancer in women who have an abortion."


Why dangerous?

Because this is crap.

As in 'total crap', as explained by a slightly more reliable source than the Human Life Alliance, which is the U.S National Cancer Institute. I am going to reprint an entire paragraph from them here which is long, I realize, for some who want to most fervently to believe in stupid, dangerous stuff, but it is important to do so as it gives true context before the final unequivocal kicker.

So here goes.....

The relationship between induced and spontaneous abortion and breast cancer risk has been the subject of extensive research beginning in the late 1950s. Until the mid-1990s, the evidence was inconsistent. Findings from some studies suggested there was no increase in risk of breast cancer among women who had had an abortion, while findings from other studies suggested there was an increased risk. Most of these studies, however, were flawed in a number of ways that can lead to unreliable results. Only a small number of women were included in many of these studies, and for most, the data were collected only after breast cancer had been diagnosed, and women’s histories of miscarriage and abortion were based on their “self-report” rather than on their medical records. Since then, better-designed studies have been conducted. These newer studies examined large numbers of women, collected data before breast cancer was found, and gathered medical history information from medical records rather than simply from self-reports, thereby generating more reliable findings. The newer studies consistently showed no association between induced and spontaneous abortions and breast cancer risk.


I will now repeat that last phrase one more time for those who have a problem with the disavowing of demonstrable falsehoods. Specifically, all the best new fully complete, large cohort studies have consistently showed...

...no association between induced and spontaneous abortions and breast cancer risk.


As in none.

Otherwise known as zero.

Therefore, given that this is public knowledge one can only conclude that the fine folks at the 'Human Life Alliance' have no concerns about burdening young women with a lifetime of guilt that could actually do them real psychological harm.

Because fears of being diagnosed with breast cancer because of something you did as a kid can last a lifetime.

But who cares about all that.

After all, the health and well being of the very kids you are trying to 'save' mean nothing when there are ideological battles to be won.

Right?

Wrong.


_____
Thanks to Dave, by way of Jezebel, for bringing this story to our attention.
There's also a 'Just For Guys' version. They both go by the cool, hip, moniker 'J4G' (do ya' get it?).
The 'abortion causes cancer' crap was found in a cute little bit called 'Dr. Mary Paquette anwers (sic) your questions'. Apparently, Dr. Paquette can neither spell nor keep up with the medical literature. Below is a screen shot of her craptacularly crappy answer to a supposed 'question' from a newly knocked-up kid (click on the image for a larger view):


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