Deceptive pregnancy centers flushed out

Deceptive facilities called Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs) are setting up shop near college campuses across the country, and the University of Cincinnati is no exception, according to the Feminist Majority Foundation.

The National Abortion Federation (NAF) defines CPCs as “deceptive facilities that look like medical clinics, but are actually anti-choice centers that exist to keep women from having abortions and misinform or intimidate women to achieve their goal.”

Women have described being harassed, bullied and given false information, according to NAF.

“I’m sure the facts have some degree of truth to them,” said Ashley Bowser, a fourth-year nursing major. “But since these facilities are pro-life, I’m sure some pump up the facts or exaggerate them to make them seem or sound worse than they actually are to try to scare women out of it.”

UC’s campus planner includes a full-page advertisement for Pregnancy Center East under the “Abortion Counseling” section. The center offers abortion consultation and immediate medical referral service, but does not perform abortions, support abortion or refer clients to other abortion clinics. The planner also has a section called “Abortion Alternatives,” including one of the potential CPCs in Cincinnati in its listing.

“Abortion is the most common medical procedure in the country,” said Barbara Rinto, director of the UC Women’s Center. “I’m not saying that’s good, just that we need to bring it out into the light.”

These establishments are not medical facilities and are largely staffed by volunteers who call themselves counselors. Many are near authentic abortion clinics in an attempt to look more legitimate and attract potential clients away from receiving abortion care by capitalizing on patients’ confusion, according to NAF.

“They call us fake clinics, well I say what’s fake about it?” said Joan Loebker, President of the Board of the Pregnancy Center West on Glenway Avenue. “We just give free pregnancy tests and facts about childbirth and abortion. We don’t charge a dime – this is all volunteer time by people who believe life is sacred, so we don’t perform abortions. If a client chooses to keep her baby, we refer her to Good Sam’s pre-natal clinic right downstairs.”

There are several ways to identify a potential CPC.

A CPC offers free pregnancy tests and videos that might discourage women from abortion, but do not give referrals for abortion. Some, but not all CPCs, advertise that it can help with finances, medical care, adoption or childcare if they choose to continue their pregnancy or give information that could be construed as misleading, inaccurate or a scare tactic.

“These places pose as comprehensive women’s health clinics, when they actually don’t offer abortion services, contraception or referrals,” said Holly Tomlinson, of The Feminist Majority Foundation. “They use scare tactics and misinformation to manipulate women to choose motherhood or adoption while pressuring them not to consider abortion or birth control, and many claim abortion leads to breast cancer, infertility, suicide and that condoms will not protect you from sexually transmitted infections – all claims that have been disputed by studies conducted by the American Medical Association, American Psychological Association and the World Health Organization.”

In an effort to help clients combat the confusion, a bill titled the “Stop Deceptive Advertising for Women’s Services Act,” was introduced by Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY). The bill allows the Federal Trade Commission to regulate the advertising practices of CPCs in order to prevent confusion with legitimate abortion providers.

There are several ways to identify a comprehensive or legitimate women’s health clinic that offers all options counseling.

“A legitimate clinic makes sure the woman knows the choice she wants to make and helps her exercise that choice whether it’s terminating or continuing the pregnancy,” Rinto said. “They support them in their decision and provide referrals, even for abortion. If she decides to continue the pregnancy, she’ll be referred to options for prenatal care, and then she can decide whether to keep the baby or have an adoption.”