Re: Immediate Risks of Abortion

Even with this disclaimer, it's not true unless you openly discuss ALL OPTIONS.

"Note: Our network of participating pregnancy centers offers peer counseling and accurate information about all pregnancy options; however, these centers do not offer or directly refer for abortion services."



Please Note: General rules to follow for consumer protection:

Ask Questions, and Avoid Centers Who Do Not Give You Straightforward Answers
This is the most effective way to determine the nature of a pregnancy center. Before going to a center, call their phone number and ask questions. Avoid clinics whose staff do not provide full, clear answers regarding their services. Avoid clinics that refuse to give a straightforward answer.

Ask if they refer to abortion clinics or places where they can receive birth control. If they do not, they are a pro-life center and you will not likely receive unbiased, accurate medical information.

Ask if they are a state-licensed medical facility. If they are not, and you are looking for a professional medical opinion, you should seek an OB/GYN or other trusted source for information or a referral.

Free Offerings are a Red Flag
If it's too good to be true, it probably isn't true. Many of these centers promise free medical services, unbiased information, maternal aid (clothes, toys, etc.), and other free assistance. These free offerings are a red flag, and centers offering free "services" should be considered suspicious.

Many of these centers do not have the financial means to make due on their promises, nor will they have the resources to hold a state medical license or hire a licensed doctor/nurse if their services are completely free of charge. Several lawsuits have been filed against centers advertising services they do not actually provide, or have failed to provide upon request.

In 1993, Ohio Attorney General Lee Fisher found that five crisis pregnancy centers in the state "violate the law by advertising themselves as clinics when they are not medical facilities, provide no medical services, and have no doctors on staff. Some of the centers also promise additional services they do not provide, such as offering free pregnancy tests, when the center does not perform or interpret pregnancy tests for clients [6]."

Be Wary of Center Names
Become familiarized with the names of the centers listed below. You will notice that most names are neutral, and do not indicate a pro-life affiliation (which is intentional). Pregnancy centers with neutral-sounding names, which include words like "crisis," "help," "problem," or "support" should be considered suspicious.

Be Wary of Traditional and Internet Yellow Pages Listings
Although tactics vary from center to center, the following patterns have emerged as typical of anti-abortion counseling centers.

They falsely suggest or promise a full range of reproductive health services, and list themselves in the yellow pages of telephone directories under any or all of the following headings [7] :

-Abortion
-Abortion Clinics
-Abortion Alternatives
-Birth Control Information Centers
-Clinics, Medical
-Family Planning Information Centers
-Social Service Organizations
-Women's Organizations
Suspicious Pregnancy Centers in Ohio

These state-by-state lists are based on affiliations with pro-life organizations, customer complaints, and legally filed complaints, but do not include all deceptive centers in these states. Use your best judgment before deciding whether to visit a suspicious center.

Akron

Akron Pregnancy Services
Suburban Pregnancy Services
Pregnancy Care

Cincinnati
Abortion Accurate Information
Birthright
Cincinnati Crisis Pregnancy Center
Pregnancy Care Center
Pregnancy Center of Clermont (Milford)
Pregnancy Center West
Pregnancy Help Center
Pregnancy Problem Center East

Cleveland
Birthright
Faith Wellness & Pregnancy Center
Healing Journey

Columbus
Alpha Pregnancy Counseling Center
Birthright of Columbus (Downtown)
Birthright of Columbus (North)
Pregnancy Distress Center of Columbus
Pregnancy Distress Center, East
Pregnancy Distress Center (High Street)
Pregnancy Distress Center (Ohio State University)
Pregnancy Distress Center, West

Dayton
Dayton North Womens Center
Elizabeth's New Life Center
Miami Valley Women's Center
Womanline of Dayton
Women's Support Center

Hamilton
Problem Pregnancy Center

Kent
Birthright of Portage County
Portage County Crisis Pregnancy Center

Lebanon
Crisis Pregnancy Center for Hope

Mansfield
Emergency Pregnancy Aid Contact (EMPAC)
Richland Pregnancy Services

Medina
Birthcare of Medina County

Middletown
Community Pregnancy Center

Oxford
Oxford Pregnancy Care Center

Springfield
Crisis Pregnancy Center of Springfield
Women's Network

Toledo
Pregnancy Center of Greater Toledo
Heartbeat of Toledo (Madison Ave.)
Heartbeat of Toledo (Southwyck Blvd.)

Xenia
Crisis Pregnancy Center of Greene County
Suspicious Pregnancy Centers in Indiana

Bloomington

Crisis Pregnancy Center of Bloomington, Inc.

Evansville
Birthright
Pregnancy Resource Centers (Bellmeade)
Pregnancy Resource Centers (Weinbach)
Pregnancy Center West
Pregnancy Support

Fort Wayne
Crisis Pregnancy Center

Indianapolis
Central Indiana Crisis Pregnancy Center
Crisis Pregnancy Center West
Crisis Pregnancy Center North
Crisis Pregnancy Center South
Crisis Pregnancy Center East

Lafayette/West Lafayette
LifeCare Services
Matrix Lifeline Pregnancy Center

Lawrenceberg
Dearborn County Crisis Pregnancy Center

Muncie
Birthright
Heart to Heart
AAIM Crisis Pregnancy Center

Richmond
Birthright

South Bend
Women's Care Center (St. Louis Blvd.)
Women's Care Center (Ironwood Circle)
Women's Care Center (Chapin Street)
Women's Care Center (S. Miami Street)
Pregnancy Help Line

Terre Haute
Birthright
Crisis Pregnancy Center Wabash County
Suspicious Pregnancy Centers in Kentucky

Bowling Green

Pregnancy Support Center

Florence
Pregnancy Center of Northern Kentucky

Lexington
AA Pregnancy Help Center

Louisville
A Woman's Choice Resource Center (Preston Hwy.)
A Woman's Choice Resource Center (E. Broadway)
Birthright
Opportunities for Life (South Shelby St.)
Opportunities for Life (Poplar Level Rd.)
Pregnancy Helpline
Pregnancy Helpline East
Where can I find professional, non-deceptive pregnancy counseling centers?

Select clinics and pregnancy counseling centers that have clearly established reputations. Avoid centers with ambiguous names or descriptions. Ask friends and relatives you trust, or a family doctor or OB/GYN for a referral. Family Planning Services, Planned Parenthood, or any other established women's health medical facility will provide unbiased answers in a non-pressured environment. Most clinics that provide abortions also provide free pregnancy tests, state-mandated counseling or literature, and adoption resources.



Complete Reports & Articles on the Deceptive Practices of CPC's:

Deceptive Anti-Abortion Crisis Pregnancy Centers (NARAL)

Anti-Abortion Counseling Centers: A Consumer's Alert to Deception, Harassment, and Medical Malpractice (Planned Parenthood)

Crisis Pregnancy Centers Seek To Increase Political Clout, Secure Government Subsidy (The Guttmacher Institute Report on Public Policy)

Clinic Crisis (AlterNet)

New York State Probes Pro-Life Centers (WorldNetDaily)

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