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HEALTH & REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM
Beware of Deceptive “Crisis Pregnancy Centers”
What are crisis pregnancy centers? How are they different from medical clinics?
Crisis pregnancy centers, which go by many different names, are usually run by organizations that are opposed to abortion. It is the goal of most, if not all, of these organizations to discourage women from having abortions. Crisis pregnancy centers DO NOT provide abortion services, information, or referrals. Most will not give women any information about contraceptives. Most provide no medical services of any kind, other than a pregnancy test and possibly an ultrasound (sonogram). Even those centers that do provide ultrasounds often do so without trained medical staff to interpret the results.
Why should you be concerned about crisis pregnancy centers?
- Most give biased counseling and often false information. Although these centers offer free pregnancy tests and counseling, the counselors do not give women information about all available medical options so that women can make informed decisions. Some centers have tried to intimidate, scare, or shame women into not having abortions. Others bring religion into the discussion, though they try to hide their religious affiliation when women call to make appointments. Others overstate the risk of miscarriage in an effort to encourage women to “wait and see” rather than take action to address unintended pregnancies. One crisis pregnancy center in Washington told a woman that she could give up her baby for adoption without notice to the baby’s father. In fact, Washington law generally requires notice to all biological parents before an adoption can take place.
- Some pretend to provide services they don’t provide. Some of these centers have posed as medical clinics, and some have used misleading advertising to attract women trying to find help to deal with unintended pregnancies. At least one crisis pregnancy center in the Northwest led a woman to believe she had an appointment for an abortion, though the crisis pregnancy center does not provide them. Many say they will help pregnant women, and a few actually do, but most provide no social services or financial help to women other than giving them a few free baby clothes or diapers. They don’t provide childbirth services or prenatal care, either.
- They have refused to give women their records or written pregnancy test results. Women throughout the Northwest have complained that these centers routinely refuse to give women the results of their pregnancy tests in writing, something many women need so they can apply for a state medical coupon that pays for an abortion. If you need a pregnancy test to apply for a medical coupon that pays for an abortion, ask your state program caseworker about where to get a free pregnancy test, which is available in many communities.
- They may endanger women by violating the standard of medical care for ultrasounds. Despite claiming to offer ultrasounds as a service, these centers often lack trained medical staff to interpret ultrasound results correctly. For example, one crisis pregnancy center in the Northwest circled something on an ultrasound photograph that was outside the woman’s uterus and told her it was “her baby.” Women could get hurt with false information like that, and that is why the medical standard of care allows only trained ultrasound technicians to provide ultrasounds and prohibits anyone but a physician or radiologist from interpreting the results.
How can I tell a crisis pregnancy center from a medical clinic?
Sometimes it is hard to tell whether an organization is a crisis pregnancy center or a real reproductive health clinic. The center may have a name that sounds like a medical clinic and be in a building that looks like a medical clinic. You can find clues in how an organization advertises. Often the crisis pregnancy centers are listed in the phonebook under “abortion alternatives” and are listed along with medical clinics under “pregnancy counseling and information.” Clinics that provide full medical services are usually listed under “abortion providers.” If you are looking for more information about abortion, look for places advertising that they are family planning clinics, or that they provide abortions and contraceptives, not “abortion counseling” or “help with your pregnancy.”
What is the Northwest Women's Law Center doing about this problem?
The Law Center is hard at work monitoring these programs and investigating complaints. We want to help women who’ve been harmed by deceptive crisis pregnancy centers. We want to hear from you. Contact us if you or someone you know has had a bad experience at a crisis pregnancy center or other similar organization.