OB/GYN Panel Reviewing Alaska Abortion Web Site Agrees To Include Material on Abortion-Breast Cancer Link, Fetal Pain

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 04 May 2005 - 9:00 PDT

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A five-member OB/GYN panel that is reviewing Alaska's abortion informed consent... Web site -- which was required to be created under a law (SB 30) signed last year -- has said the site will include information about fetal pain and a possible link between abortion and an increased risk of breast cancer, the Anchorage Daily News reports (Demer, Anchorage Daily News, 4/30). Gov. Frank Murkowski (R) in July 2004 signed the law establishing the Web site and requiring women seeking abortions to certify in writing that their doctors gave them the information from the site or other information that meets specific standards. The law requires the Web site to include information about fetal development; photographs of a fetus at four-week gestational increments; descriptions of various abortion procedures; possible risks and complications, including physical and psychological effects, associated with abortion procedures and childbirth; eligibility requirements for medical assistance benefits; child support orders; and various contraceptive options. The law also requires that all information included on the site be objective, unbiased and approved by a group of OB/GYN specialists appointed by the state medical board (Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, 3/25). The panel -- which is made up of all men including two abortion providers and one member recruited by Alaska Right to Life -- previously had given tentative approval to the Web site without any mention of fetal pain or the possible abortion-breast cancer link. However, the public comment period on the site ended on April 25, and the panel met on Friday to review more than 50 public comments on the draft version of the site.

Abortion-Breast Cancer Link
After the meeting, the panel agreed to add to the site information on a possible link between abortion and breast cancer, saying that the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has concluded that "early studies" on a potential link were "inconsistent and difficult to interpret" but that recent studies have shown that there likely is not a link between abortion and breast cancer, according to the Daily News. The draft Web site language says, "There are other opinions regarding this topic more supportive of the suggested relationship between breast cancer and abortion." The site also will include other sources and more references to studies on the possible abortion-breast cancer link. State Sen. Fred Dyson (R), sponsor of the bill that mandated the site's creation, said, "The possible link between abortion and breast cancer has been debated for 50 years, and I don't expect this Web site to conclude the matter," adding, "Rather than be silent on the issue, it would be helpful to add links to both sides of this argument, so that women can do their own additional research and decision-making."

Fetal Pain, 'Unborn Child'
In response to requests from some antiabortion advocates who requested that the site include information about possible fetal pain felt during abortion, the panel said that the site would state that some experts believe fetuses can feel pain by 20 weeks gestation, the Daily News reports. However, the site also will state that ACOG has not addressed the issue since 1984 and that a "definitive source" on the issue is "difficult" to find, according to the Daily News. The site also will include sources for more information on fetal pain. Although the legislation that required the creation of the Web site used the term "unborn child" throughout, the panel agreed that the site will use the terms "embryo" and "fetus" instead of unborn child, the Daily News reports. The panel is scheduled to meet again on May 20 to complete its review of public comments and regulations governing the site, according to the Daily News. New reporting requirements for abortion providers are expected to be finalized this summer, according to the Daily News (Anchorage Daily News, 4/30).

"Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork.org kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/repro The Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.