In an editorial, Assemblywoman Jessica Ramirez (D-32) gives her take on why it’s time for transparency in crisis pregnancy centers in New Jersey, prompting her to introduce a bill.
It’s time we address the misinformation and deceptive practices of crisis pregnancy centers.
Crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) are non-medical facilities that bully pregnant people into not having an abortion and provide misinformation about abortion, birth control, and sexually transmitted infections – while posing as a legitimate and licensed healthcare center.
Because they are not a medically licensed facility, they are not bound by HIPAA laws and have no obligation to keep patient information secure and private.
Centers may give information to other anti-abortion organizations or use it to harass people who have come in to seek care.
CPC websites often use language such as “choice” or “options,” yet provide misinformation or inflate risks associated with abortion care.
Most egregiously, CPCs offer ultrasounds to pregnant women, as a medical license is not needed to perform an ultrasound in New Jersey. These ultrasounds are advertised as “viability ultrasounds” to determine whether a pregnant person “needs an abortion or not.”
As a result, women receive ultrasound results that have not been interpreted by a trained medical professional, and may be tricked into thinking that they are carrying an unviable pregnancy.
For people who are seeking abortion, this means valuable time lost and waning options. Imagine if an unlicensed, untrained individual advertised heart health services with a stethoscope, at a center that was not actually a licensed healthcare facility.
It absolutely would not stand. We need to have the same standards for reproductive healthcare.
It is past time to hold CPCs accountable. I have just introduced A5418 which would create consumer protections by requiring CPCs to post clear signage in the waiting room and all examination rooms in both English and Spanish.
The signage is to include that the CPC is not a licensed health care facility, and whether or not the CPC employs a physician to supervise pregnancy-related services.
If the facility is not providing medical services, then it should not be a problem to make that clear to women seeking care.
Women who are already in crisis make appointments at these centers thinking they are going to receive a full spectrum of care by a medical professional. They think they are getting an ultrasound done by a licensed professional.
They think the scare tactics and misinformation surrounding abortion risk are being told to them by a doctor.
People have the right to see a crisis pregnancy center if they want to, but these facilities need to be upfront about the services that they provide so that people can make informed choices.
This comes at a time when reproductive healthcare is being attacked across the country. While abortion is still legal here in New Jersey, barriers still exist that prevent pregnant people from being able to fully access all of their options.
This is just one step in a series of steps that must be taken to ensure full freedom and accessibility for reproductive healthcare services, and I am proud to stand with women and fight for this access.
Assemblywoman Jessica Ramirez, New Jersey’s 32nd Legislative District
