© 2024 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY · WNPR
WPKT · WRLI-FM · WEDW-FM · Public Files Contact
ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

New Report Blasts Crisis Pregnancy Centers in Connecticut

NARAL Pro-choice CT says crisis pregnancy centers are fronts for anti-abortion organizations.

    

"There is no right to lie, and pretend to be a health care provider, when someone is not."
Sen. Richard Blumenthal

A new report accuses crisis pregnancy centers of deceptive advertising, and distributing false information about reproductive health to their clients.

You've probably seen the ads -- a picture of a distraught young woman, with the question "pregnant and scared?" and then the words "we can help." These ads are typically placed by faith-based crisis pregnancy centers, or CPCs.

NARAL Pro-Choice Connecticut believes these ads are deceitful and a threat to public safety.

"The CPCs in the study do not provide medically accurate, comprehensive services, and instead make every effort to mask their anti-choice agenda," said Stacy Missari, Board Chair for NARAL Pro Choice Connecticut.

NARAL Pro-Choice Connecticut's two-year investigation of CPCs in Connecticut revealed some startling statistics -- only eleven percent of the 27 CPCs in Connecticut have actual medical professionals on staff. Seventy percent did not disclose explicitly that they are not a licensed medical facility. None of Connecticut's CPCs offer sexually transmitted infection testing or referrals.

Twenty percent of CPCs actually had volunteer staff wear white lab coats and scrubs to give the impression of being a medical facility.

"There is no right to lie, and pretend to be a health care provider, when someone is not," said U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal.

Credit Charlie Smart / WNPR
/
WNPR

The studyalso revealed that 95 percent of crisis pregnancy centers in Connecticut provide misleading and often false claims about abortion. "Telling them that abortion likely causes breast cancer, or severe depression, and even death," said Stacy Missari.

NARAL Pro-Choice Connecticut says lawmakers should craft legislation that requires CPCs to honestly disclose the services they provide, while cutting off state funding to facilities that do not offer comprehensive medical services. Emails seeking comment from several Connecticut crisis pregnancy centers were never returned.

Ray Hardman is Connecticut Public’s Arts and Culture Reporter. He is the host of CPTV’s Emmy-nominated original series Where Art Thou? Listeners to Connecticut Public Radio may know Ray as the local voice of Morning Edition, and later of All Things Considered.

Stand up for civility

This news story is funded in large part by Connecticut Public’s Members — listeners, viewers, and readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

We hope their support inspires you to donate so that we can continue telling stories that inform, educate, and inspire you and your neighbors. As a community-supported public media service, Connecticut Public has relied on donor support for more than 50 years.

Your donation today will allow us to continue this work on your behalf. Give today at any amount and join the 50,000 members who are building a better—and more civil—Connecticut to live, work, and play.

Related Content