New York State is suing 11 crisis pregnancy centers including Care Net Penn Yan and Care Net of Wayne County for what Attorney General Letitia James says is the use of false and misleading statements to advertise an unprovement treatment they call “Abortion Pill Reversal.”
James is also suing the anti-abortion group Heartbeat International, Inc. (Heartbeat). Heartbeat and the crisis pregnancy centers—whose mission is to prevent people from obtaining abortions—advertise “Abortion Pill Reversal” (APR) as a safe and effective treatment that they claim can “reverse” medication abortions. According to the Attorney General, in reality, abortion cannot be “reversed,” and there is a glaring lack of scientific evidence to support APR’s safety and effectiveness. The only clinical trial conducted to evaluate APR had to be halted due to concerns about patient safety. Major medical associations, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) have cautioned that APR is not backed by science and does not meet clinical standards.
In addition to Heartbeat, the 11 crisis pregnancy centers named in the lawsuit are:
- Adirondack Pregnancy Center, Inc. d/b/a AscentCare in Saranac Lake, Franklin County;
- Crisis Pregnancy Services, Inc. d/b/a CompassCare in Rochester, Monroe County; Buffalo, Erie County; Latham, Albany County; and Brooklyn Heights, Kings County;
- The Care Center d/b/a Soundview Pregnancy Services in East Meadow, Nassau County; and Centereach and Riverhead, Suffolk County;
- New Hope Family Services, Inc. in Syracuse, Onondaga County;
- Pregnancy Center of Penn Yan d/b/a Care Net Penn Yan in Penn Yan, Yates County;
- Study the Options Please, Inc. d/b/a Care Net of Wayne County in Newark, Wayne County;
- Pregnancy Center of Central New York d/b/a Willow Network in Boonville, Camden, Rome, and Utica, Oneida County; Ilion, Herkimer County; Liverpool, Onondaga County; and Morrisville and Oneida, Madison County;
- Crisis Pregnancy Center, Inc. d/b/a Care Net Pregnancy Center of the Hudson Valley in Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County;
- 1st Way Life Center, Inc. in Monticello, Sullivan County;
- Caring Choices Pregnancy Help Center, Inc. in Rochester and Webster, Monroe County; and
- Bridge Women’s Support Center in College Point, Queens County.
Attorney General James said she seeks to stop Heartbeat and the crisis pregnancy centers from misleading consumers about the safety and effectiveness of APR by holding them to the same standard as any other entity advertising health care services directly to consumers in the state. Attorney General James is also seeking the payment of civil penalties for violations of the law.
“Abortions cannot be reversed. Any treatments that claim to do so are made without scientific evidence and could be unsafe,” said Attorney General James. “Heartbeat International and the other crisis pregnancy center defendants are spreading dangerous misinformation by advertising ‘abortion reversals’ without any medical and scientific proof. Amid the increase in attacks on reproductive health care nationwide, we must protect pregnant people’s right to make safe, well-informed decisions about their health. Your reproductive health care decisions are yours and yours alone, and my office will always protect New Yorkers from those who push a scientifically unproven and potentially life-threatening intervention.”
Heartbeat and the 11 crisis pregnancy centers named in Attorney General James’ lawsuit aggressively advertise APR on their websites, social media, and other promotional materials using what she claims are false and misleading claims that lead patients to think that APR is a proven and safe treatment with minimal risks, despite the lack of reliable scientific evidence, for example:
- “Can the abortion pill be reversed? The simple answer is yes! If done in time.”
- “There is an effective process called abortion pill reversal* that can reverse the effects of the abortion pill and allow you to continue your pregnancy, but time is of the essence.”
- “Using the natural hormone progesterone, medical professionals have been able to save 64-68% of pregnancies through abortion pill reversal.”
According to AG James, these false and misleading statements constitute persistent fraud and illegality under Executive Law 63(12) and deceptive business and false advertising practices in violation of sections 349 and 350 of the General Business Law.
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