Planned Parenthood of San Diego Sued for ‘Withholding Information’ on Alleged Abortion-Breast Cancer Link

Three California women filed a lawsuit Wednesday in San Diego Superior Court against Planned Parenthood of San Diego and Riverside counties and the Planned Parenthood Federation of America alleging that the organization "withholds information" on a possible link between abortion and breast cancer, the Associated Press reports. The suit does not seek monetary damages, but asks a judge to order Planned Parenthood clinics to inform clients that abortion increases the risk of breast cancer. Plaintiffs' attorney Patrick Gillen said that the organization "repeatedly has dismissed research that shows women who have abortions are more likely to develop breast cancer" (Associated Press, 8/16). Gillen cited "28 out of 37 studies worldwide" that associate abortion with an increased chance of developing breast cancer (Roth, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8/17). Planned Parenthood lawyer James McElroy "dismissed the argument," calling the lawsuit "frivolous" and "appear[ing] to be a scare tactic by antiabortion groups." He said, "There is no justifiable, medical basis for these claims. There have been reliable medical studies that show there is not a connection" (Associated Press, 8/15).