Komen Changes Its Story

On the heels of quite a bit of backlash, like this New York Times editorial, executives from the Komen foundation are in super crisis management mode. (So far, they haven’t gone the zebra blood route, but it’s still early.)

I’ll briefly paraphrase Komen President Elizabeth Thompson, responding to questions from reporters: “Investigation?” Did we say “investigation?” No, we meant, um, that other thing anti-abortion people are saying, that Planned Parenthood doesn’t have on-sight mammograms. Or they aren’t good enough. Something like that. Abortions? Oh, we didn’t even realize that was the same Planned Parenthood. Nope, that had nothing to do with it. What’s that, we also pulled funding for stem cell research that was working toward a cure? Total coincidence. Hey, isn’t the Super Bowl soon? We know how you folks like to watch football! Why don’t you go over there and rest until the game starts.

UPDATE 10:36: read a public statement (apology) from Nancy Brinker, and a response from Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards here.

USA Today Says Baylor Health Care Has Gone ‘Down a Dangerous Road’ With Tobacco Ban

Baylor Health CEO Joel Allison

USA Today opines that when a company refuses to hire anyone who smokes tobacco it “crosses a troubling line.” The newspaper singles out Dallas’ own Baylor Health Care System, which formalized its anti-smoking policy as of January 1, in an editorial:

Treating smoking, in essence, like illegal drug use takes Baylor and an increasing number of other employers down a dangerous road, one that extends far too deeply into the private lives of prospective workers.

Joel Allison, the CEO of Baylor, discussed the ban with me during our recent breakfast at the Original Pancake House on Lemmon Avenue. The policy is not limited merely to smokers but includes use of any nicotine products:

“Is that legal?” I ask him, only half-serious.

“We would not do anything that would be considered illegal,” he says, completely serious. “We’re in the healthcare business, so we want people to practice good health.”

Allison also believes it’s important for Baylor to do what it can to keep its own costs down. Before this all-out ban, the company had already placed a surcharge on smokers who participated in its health insurance plan. “Five percent of the population uses up about 50 percent of the health care cost,” he says.

To which USA Today declares a SLIPPERY SLOPE ALERT:

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