New research published by Brook project Education For Choice (EFC) shows that some Crisis Pregnancy Centres (CPCs) have been offering poor quality advice and inaccurate information on abortion, with some of the centres highlighted in the research run by socially conservative religious groups. The British Humanist Association (BHA) defends the right of women to access safe and legal abortion services, and calls for the CPC sector to be more closely regulated, to ensure that the advice which they offer is accurate, impartial and contains no religious interference.
EFC identified 135 CPCs, 33 of which were visited by ‘mystery shoppers’ during 2012-2014. It was found that a majority of the centres visited were either providing misleading information about abortion, or using emotional manipulation when discussing pregnancy options (or both). For example, two centres falsely claimed that abortion leads to an increased risk of breast cancer, 18 counsellors gave value judgements when discussing abortion, and five counsellors shared their religious beliefs.
The researchers discovered that almost a hundred CPCs are run by Care Confidential, which has a history of campaigning against abortion and LGBT rights. It was also found that 26 CPCs are run by Life, another anti-abortion organisation. Both Life and Care Confidential are registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), which requires its members to adhere to its Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy.
There are also CPCs run by smaller religious groups, such as The Good Counsel Network, which provides counselling to pregnant women ‘founded on prayer and the teachings of the Catholic Church’, and Image, which organises a ‘National Day of Prayer about Abortion’. Some CPCs have established links with the NHS, and claim to be receiving referrals from NHS GPs and hospitals. Both Care Confidential and Image also claim that they counsel women in prisons.
Pavan Dhaliwal, BHA Head of Public Affairs, commented ‘There needs to be tighter regulation of the CPC sector to ensure that these centres provide information which is accurate and unbiased, and which does not impose a religious viewpoint on the women who are seeking help, some of whom may be in a vulnerable position. The BACP should also take action against any of its member organisations which run CPCs and that are failing to live up to its standards. The NHS and the Prison Service should also dissociate themselves from CPCs which have been flagged up in this research as having conservative religious connections or giving out biased and inaccurate information.’
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For further comment or information contact Pavan Dhaliwal, BHA Head of Public Affairs at pavan@humanism.org.uk or on 0773 843 5059.
CPCs are independent of the NHS and offer counselling around pregnancy. The research into CPCs was carried out by the sexual health charity Brook as part of their Education for Choice initiative. The Daily Telegraph has also carried out an investigation in which counsellors at two CPCs were secretly recorded giving misleading advice.
Brook – New report finds ‘crisis pregnancy centres’ spreading misinformation about abortion: http://www.brook.org.uk/index.php/what-s-new/latest-news?view=article&id=153
The Telegraph – ‘Abortion will make women child sex abusers’ independent clinics warn: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-health/10621459/Abortion-will-make-women-child-sex-abusers.html
Read about the BHA’s campaigning on Sexual and Reproductive rights: https://humanism.org.uk/campaigns/public-ethical-issues/sexual-and-reproductive-rights/
The British Humanist Association is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people who seek to live ethical and fulfilling lives on the basis of reason and humanity. It promotes a secular state and equal treatment in law and policy of everyone, regardless of religion or belief.
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