Consumer Reports
cites U.N. document

Consumer Reports is citing the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights in its defense of a report on birth control and abortion that has pro-lifers canceling their subscriptions to the magazine.

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"[Consumer Union's] mission is to ensure a fair, just, and safe marketplace for all consumers, and we support the consumer's right to be informed (part of the United Nations charter on human rights)," reads an e-mail from customer relations staffer Michael Dempsey responding to complaints.

"As one way to fulfill our mission, we publish factual, scientifically based information on public health topics and on legally available products and services provided by the medical profession and health-care industry."

As WorldNetDaily reported, Consumer Reports, the respected periodical that has advised Americans on everything from new car purchases to which electric can opener to buy, published in its February 2005 issue a list of birth-control options that includes abortion, complete with a section describing how the procedure gets rid of a pregnant mother's "uterine contents."

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Along with an analysis report on condoms, Consumer Reports provides both a comparative guide to other contraceptive methods and a page entitled "Birth control: More and safer choices," which includes discussion of abortion.

Pro-life activists have criticized the magazine for failing to list the downsides and alternatives to abortion, and for referring readers to Planned Parenthood, the nation's No. 1 abortion provider. Activists have noted the birth-control piece includes no mention of the top method for preventing conception, abstinence, though it is briefly mentioned in another sidebar entitled "Your comparative guide to contraception."

Since first publicizing the abortion story, WorldNetDaily has received e-mails from several readers saying they had canceled their subscriptions to Consumer Reports because of the article. The magazine offers both traditional subscriptions and online subscriptions.

In his e-mail, Dempsey points out that Consumers Union, the publisher of Consumer Reports, "has been covering family planning and related medical products and services since its founding in 1936."

The note also claims the organization is politically neutral:

"CU does not take public-policy positions regarding the use or regulation of contraceptives or abortion procedures."

Said Dempsey: "In keeping with CU's values of accuracy, thoroughness and integrity, Consumer Reports February 2005 article provides the necessary factual background for comparing benefits and risks of related products and services."

As World reported, despite the mission statement of Consumers Union stating the organization vows to maintain "independence and impartiality," the president and CEO of the nonprofit, James A. Guest, once led the Maryland branch of Planned Parenthood. Guest also worked for a time as a legislative assistant to Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., and led anti-firearms groups Handgun Control Inc. and the Center to Prevent Handgun Violence.

A review of the backgrounds of other key staff members reveals they, too, have experience with left-leaning organizations and politicians.

Linda Wagner, Consumer Unions' senior director of communications, claimed WND's headline in the original story, "Consumer Reports advocates abortion," is inaccurate.

"Contrary to the headline of your Jan. 10, 2005, article on WorldNetDaily.com, Consumer Reports and its publisher, Consumers Union, do not advocate for specific medical products or procedures, which a patient should discuss with his or her doctor," she told WND in an e-mail.

Wagner disputed the contention that the birth-control article didn't include the downsides of abortion, saying the magazine "included information about physical complications such as nausea, bleeding, cramping and death due to 'a ruptured tubal pregnancy' or 'infection,' along with comparative fatality risks."

Saying Guest's former employment with Planned Parenthood was not a factor in the story, Wagner stated, "Decisions about the editorial content of the February 2005 article were made by the health editor, with approval from the editor of Consumer Reports magazine and the vice president/editorial director. CU's president and executive V.P. were, as always, aware of the major subject areas being planned for the magazine. But, as usual, they defer to the editorial director and editors for editorial decisions about specific content."

Related stories:

Consumer Reports advocates abortion

Consumer Reports CEO led Planned Parenthood

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