Sponsored by: Garnet Coleman (D-Houston)
Summary: Texas law mandates that a woman receiving abortion care be given the option to view state-directed "informed consent" materials prior to the procedure. Unfortunately, they would be more appropriately called "misinformed consent," as many of the materials include misleading and even blatantly false information designed to dissuade women from electing to have an abortion. Currently, the state-directed materials are required to contain fallacious information about a purported link between abortion and breast cancer. This bill would have eliminated that requirement.
Currently, the state-directed materials are required to contain fallacious information about a purported link between abortion and breast cancer. This bill would have eliminated that requirement.
PPNT Position: Supported - Scientific research has shown that there is no link between abortion and breast cancer. In February 2003, the National Cancer Institute convened a workshop of over 100 of the world’s leading experts who study pregnancy and breast cancer risk to review existing studies on the relationship between pregnancy and breast cancer risk, including studies of induced and spontaneous abortions. They concluded that having an abortion or miscarriage does not increase a woman’s subsequent risk of developing breast cancer. A number of other states have already taken steps to remove this information from their state-mandated materials in response to exhaustive scientific studies that have dismissed these claims. The state should not give women false information in an attempt to dissuade them from having a legal procedure.
Supported - Scientific research has shown that there is no link between abortion and breast cancer. In February 2003, the National Cancer Institute convened a workshop of over 100 of the world’s leading experts who study pregnancy and breast cancer risk to review existing studies on the relationship between pregnancy and breast cancer risk, including studies of induced and spontaneous abortions. They concluded that having an abortion or miscarriage does not increase a woman’s subsequent risk of developing breast cancer.
A number of other states have already taken steps to remove this information from their state-mandated materials in response to exhaustive scientific studies that have dismissed these claims. The state should not give women false information in an attempt to dissuade them from having a legal procedure.
Latest Action: 04/02/2007 - Left pending in the House State Affairs Committee.
Recorded Votes: None.
