Komen and Planned Parenthood

Obviously Komen's move to cut funding for Planned Parenthood has everything to do with politics and pressure from anti-abortion groups. I don't donate to charitable organizations with ultra-conservative sociopolitical agendas. And it looks like Komen will lose big on this decision to suddenly allow politics to direct their donations.

Today, in multiple interviews, Komen has said that they simply favor donating to more "streamlined mammography providers." (I agree with that, as you will see. I had actually written an unfinished post this morning. It follows below.) However, I do find that a very convenient and jarring turnabout from the original reason they gave for the defunding- "the Komen board voted that all of its vendors and grantees must certify that they are not under investigation by federal, state or local authorities." Riiiight. How many organizations did that affect? Just Planned Parenthood?

So... from this morning...

Why was Komen ever funding breast screenings at Planned Parenthood? I support the mission of Planned Parenthood. Their website says that "Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading sexual and reproductive health care provider and advocate," and "for more than 90 years, we’ve worked to improve women’s health and safety, prevent unintended pregnancies, and advance the right and ability of individuals and families to make informed and responsible choices." Clearly, it exists to provide much-needed pregnancy, abortion and birth control services. I would hardly identify it as a place to get a free mammogram.

Also, Planned Parenthood's client base is young women. Considering their very low risk, I think those donated dollars could be much more wisely spent.

Keep in mind, I am a breast cancer survivor, diagnosed at age 26. It happens, but it's exceedingly rare.

According to the New York Times, Planned Parenthood said, "...Komen’s money had over the years underwritten breast cancer screenings for 170,000 women, some of whose lives were saved as a result." Notice they omit the number. I'd like to see that number of lives saved, compared as a percentage to other groups with higher risk patients.

Again, I support Planned Parenthood's mission. It's just that I see only a vague connection with breast cancer screenings. There are several organizations who are focused on providing free or low-cost mammograms for women with financial need. Donations to the Komen Foundation might be better allocated to those groups.

Because of Komen's jumping from reason to reason why they defunded Planned Parenthood, I just don't buy either of them. It reeks of political BS.

Other breast cancer prevention and research non-profits to which people may wish to donate are listed at Charity Navigator. Look for the four-star ratings for the most fiscally efficient foundations. (Great site anytime you're looking to make a cash donation!)