Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS) Asks: Might ObamaCare Increase Cancer Rates?

TUCSON, Ariz., Dec. 3, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A key feature of the Affordable Care Act (ACA or "ObamaCare") is forcing Americans to buy health plans that pay for "contraceptives," including drugs that may act as abortifacients, regardless of moral objections.

The Supreme Court will hear cases concerning whether for-profit businesses have a Constitutional right to free exercise of religion that is violated by these insurance mandates (consolidated cases of Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., No. 13-354, and Conestoga Wood Specialties Corp. v. Sebelius, No. 13-356).

The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS) argues that the conscience question goes beyond doctrinal objections to contraception or abortion. Can the government force American citizens to subsidize medical interventions that they believe to be harmful to patients, as by increasing their risk of cancer?

Abortion and contraception are widely believed to be safe. A new Chinese review, however, adds to the evidence that induced abortion increases breast cancer rates.

A meta-analysis of 36 studies by Dr. Yubei Huang and colleagues found a 44% increase in breast-cancer risk in women with at least one induced abortion. There was a "dose-dependent" effect, which supports a causal relationship. With two or three abortions, the risk was increased by 76% and 89%, respectively.

These results suggest that the increasing incidence of breast cancer worldwide may be related to increasing abortion rates.

Though there have been analyses that did not find the association, their methodology has been criticized, and the preponderance of evidence favors the link.

The "morning after" pill, which may achieve its purpose by causing an abortion, contains a high dose of hormones like those in hormonal contraceptives ("the Pill"). Birth control pills are considered class-1 carcinogens by the World Health Organization (WHO).

"Kathleen Sebelius might call contraception and abortion 'preventive' measures, but does her opinion justify imposing a duty on Americans to fund measures they believe could increase cancer?" asked AAPS executive director Jane M. Orient, M.D.

Physicians who perform abortions without disclosing evidence of increased breast cancer risk might eventually face malpractice liability, according to attorney Andrew Schlafly, writing in the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons.

Is the U.S. government Constitutionally allowed to force Americans to fund procedures or drugs that might cause serious harm? Evidence from around the world, most recently China, suggests that ObamaCare is doing just that.

The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS) is a national organization representing physicians in all specialties, founded in 1943.

SOURCE Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS)