#calloutcpcs

[reginaeinferos]

Radical Idea: Out-protest the protesters. See a CPC in your area? Go there with actual medical information and warn those going in that it’s not an actual clinic. Don’t be loud or belligerent, just inform anyone walking in that they don’t offer any sort of healthcare at all.

[reginaeinferos]

FYI to people who record phone calls made to crisis pregnancy centers to catch them lying: In New York there’s a “One Party Consent Law” which basically means only you have to consent to the taping. If you call out of state you have to look into that state’s laws.

Legal shit tho: I am not a lawyer, I was just wondering if it could be done (and it can.) Consult someone with an actual law degree before trying anything, tho.

[reginaeinferos]

If you live in or near Allendale, Allegan, Grand Haven, or Holland, Michigan beware of POSITIVE OPTIONS.

Pro-Lifer blogger “aubscares” informed me she works at a CPC called “Positive Options.” It has four locations:

Holland 339 S River Ave Holland, MI 49423 Tel: [phone]

Allendale 4623 Lake Michigan Dr Allendale, MI 49401 Tel: [phone]

Allegan 114 Chestnut Allegan, MI 49010 Tel: [phone]

Grand Haven 700 Washington, # 130 Grand Haven, MI 49417 Tel: [phone]

There’s also a ‘mobile center’ (a bus) that only provides pregnancy tests and ultrasounds. Tel: [phone]

Website: POSITIVEOPTIONS.ORG

The site is incredibly misleading, the tagline literally stating “For your health, choice and future.” The front page has three links labeled “Pregnancy,” “Adoption” and “Abortion.” “Abortion” is not clickable but the other two are. There are three ‘happy client stories’ and only one has talked about deciding to parent, the other two are extremely open-ended and leave a lot up to the person reading the ‘story’ and one even makes it sound like they’re opting for an abortion but ‘haven’t decided yet.’ There is no indication they do not preform abortions aside from a small ‘disclaimer’ stating a list of services they do not provide. The list reads as follows:

“

~All of Positive Options' services are free of charge; ~Medical services are overseen by licensed medical professionals, some of whom are volunteers; ~Our pregnancy test is 99% accurate 3 to 5 days before a missed period (positive or negative); ~Positive Options recommends clients consult a licensed physician to confirm the results of a pregnancy test or ultrasound; ~Any counsel received at Positive Options is not intended as a substitute for professional counseling; ~The use of electronic recording devices will not be permitted in order to protect client privacy and the privacy of Positive Options staff; ~Any attempt to obtain services or resources under false pretenses will result in the discontinuation of services; and, ~All information is kept confidential and will not be released without a client’s written consent, except if child abuse and/or criminal sexual conduct reporting laws apply or if we believe or hear that a client is  in danger of hurting themselves or others. ~Positive Options does not offer annual exams, birth control devices, mid-life services, abortion services or referrals, mammograms or breast screening, in-vitro fertilization services, pre or post-natal care, treatment of infertility, or treatment of reproductive tract infections. ~Clients will receive a referral list of local physicians for continued reproductive care. ~The contents of this website are for information purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. ~In no event shall Positive Options be responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on the content of this website.

                                                                                                               “

Some items have been bolded because they deserve extra attention and cause suspicion.

This site has an entire page dedicated to abortion and the different types with no indicators that this ‘clinic’ does not offer them. Oh, excuse me, yes they do have a small disclaimer at the bottom of the ‘services’ page:

I have gone through the entire site at least four times and only just noticed this. I couldn’t imagine what a scared, nervous, anxious, or upset pregnant person could miss or interpret. 

The ‘medical team’ includes two Nurses (Linda Dykstra RN, Nurse Sonographer and Val Kuipers RN, Nurse Sonographer) and a Nurse Practitioner (Mary Teerman LPN, Nurse Sonographer) and a Doctor Jim Gerard, MD the Medical Director, and a local practicing OB/GYN in West Michigan. Three nurses and one doctor for four locations? My general practitioner has two LPN’s and about six nurses and she’s in a small family practice!

Also this cute line:

“We are dedicated to providing our communities with a wide range of free and confidential services to all.”

Yeah, you mean pee tests and free ultrasounds. That’s a ‘wide range’ of services.

So if you live in or near Allendale, Allegan, Grand Haven, and Holland be aware of Positive Options. If you do drop by, say hi to aubscares for me. :)

[beyondxy]

Undercover Investigation: Texas CPCs Use Deceptive Tactics and Intentionally Mislead

An undercover investigationby NARAL Pro-Choice Texas found thatcrisis pregnancy centers(CPCs) in the state disseminate misinformation, use deceptive tactics, and interfere with clients’ access to reproductive health care.

The findings mirror undercover investigations by other NARAL affiliates in other states.

Undercover audio recordings document CPC volunteers using language intended to shame visitors for being sexually active outside of marriage, providing medically inaccurate information about abortion, and using other tactics intended to prevent pregnant people from accessing reproductive health care.

“Too many women nowadays, they just meet someone and then they start sleeping together,” said one alleged CPC volunteer. “That’s where the fault is. Women don’t know how to say no anymore.”

Read more of my report at rhrealitycheck

[exposingfakeclinics]

Must watch. At minute 7 we meet a woman tricked into an appointment at a crisis pregnancy center, and it’s heartbreaking. 

[exposingfakeclinics]

“CPCs often present themselves as medical clinics and offer medically inaccurate information on birth control and abortion. One particularly pernicious strategy they have been known to employ is to deceive visitors into believing they are abortion providers and delay women so long that they miss a window during which they can get to an actual doctor.”

- Crisis Pregnancy Center Ads are Back - And more Deceptive Than Ever, Talking Points Memo, July 21 

Last time we checked, lying to women isn't medical care. 

Crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) pose as legitimate reproductive health centers. They have a track record of outright lying to women and work to dissuade people from exercising the right to choose. They often advertise as if they provide abortion services, drawing people in by promising free reproductive health services, including free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, and options counseling.

[exposingfakeclinics]

Women forced to travel as Deep South closes doors on abortion clinics | Al Jazeera America

As termination providers in Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana rapidly dwindle, women labor to access services

Women are being forced to travel huge distances for abortion care, while anti-choice crisis pregnancy centers are rapidly taking their place.

Crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) pose as legitimate reproductive health centers. They have a track record of outright lying to women and work to dissuade people from exercising the right to choose. They often advertise as if they provide abortion services, drawing people in by promising free reproductive health services, including free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, and options counseling.

[exposingfakeclinics]

Gov. Rick Snyder of Michigan just signed a bill that provides $800,000 to fund crisis pregnancy centers that lie to women. UGH.