How to Spot an Anti-Abortion Pregnancy Center
Every day these centers use lies, manipulation, and intimidation to prevent people from choosing or accessing abortions.
MISLEADING ADVERTISING
These centers adopt names that sound like actual reproductive healthcare centers. They may include terms such as “choice”, “abortion” and “alternatives”. They put deceptive ads under internet searches for “abortion”. They also include pictures of staff and volunteers posing as medical professionals wearing lab coats and/or scrubs.
VIOLATING PRIVACY
Real doctors and real healthcare facilities must comply with HIPPA. Anti-Abortion Pregnancy Centers are not considered medical facilities and are, therefore not required to comply with HIPPA.
INACCURATE MEDICAL INFORMATION
These centers will tell pregnant people that complications such as increased risk of infertility and breast cancer are linked to abortion procedures.
LIES ABOUT GESTATIONAL AGE
They will also lie about the gestational age to persuade the pregnant person that they are further along in the pregnancy. Which in states with abortion bans based upon gestational age would prohibit the person from seeking an abortion anywhere in the state.
INACCURATE INFORMATION ABOUT MISCARRIAGES
Some clinics lead patients to believe that if they do nothing, they’ll miscarry naturally. This isn’t necessarily true at all. Miscarriage risk depends on may factors, like the person’s age or health. The risk is highest early in the first trimester, but the chances of miscarriage drop considerably as the pregnancy progresses.
APPOINTMENT SETTING MANIPULATION
These centers often schedule appointments as far out as possible recognizing that timing in pregnancy is key. Pregnant people who wait may find they are too far along to have an abortion and that the cost could be prohibitive.
LOCATION IS EVERYTHING
These centers intentionally open their doors next to and/or nearby legitimate providers. This is an attempt to confuse people trying to find the real reproductive health center. They may adopt a similar logo or use the same colors in their branding.