CPCs Exposed:

The Truth About Deception at Wisconsin Crisis Pregnancy Centers

!


CPCs Exposed



NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin Foundation
2
!"#$%&'(#)*%++,-.)
ln 2011 and 2012, nA8AL ro-Cholce Wlsconsln loundaLlon (nCW loundaLlon) conducLed an
lnvesLlgaLlon of so-called crlsls pregnancy cenLers" (CCs) ln Wlsconsln. 1hls reporL synLheslzes Lhe
resulLs of LhaL lnvesLlgaLlon and provldes a plcLure of Lhe false and mlsleadlng pracLlces whlch are,
unforLunaLely, prevalenL aL Wlsconsln CCs and hlghllghLs Lhe need Lo lnform Wlsconsln women of Lhe
llmlLaLlon of Lhe servlces provlded by CCs, as well as Lhe need for pollcles Lo curLall Lhe mosL harmful
pracLlces.
1he wldespread pracLlce of provldlng false and mlsleadlng lnformaLlon and uslng hlgh pressure, scare
LacLlcs Lo pressure and coerce women faclng an unlnLended pregnancy ls a publlc healLh lssue. Women
should be presenLed wlLh accuraLe and unblased lnformaLlon abouL Lhelr reproducLlve healLh opLlons
and, women seeklng opLlons counsellng should know wheLher a cllnlc provldes comprehenslve, all-
opLlons counsellng, lncludlng referrals for aborLlon servlces, or dlssuades women from seeklng an
aborLlon.
/-'0'0)1-#23,3$.)/#3&#-0)'3)4'0$530'3)
1he number of crlsls pregnancy cenLers can be hard Lo plnpolnL, as cenLers range ln scope ln slze, from
some offerlng onllne a counsellng helpllne Lo oLhers provldlng ulLrasounds or oLher cllnlcal servlces. We
esLlmaLe LhaL Wlsconsln currenLly has an esLlmaLed 79 CCs and LhaL number ls lncreaslng. ln 2011, 1he
SLaLe of Wlsconsln began llnklng Lo CCs on Lhe sLaLe webslLe
1
, and CCs have soughL fundlng aL Lhe
local governmenL level.
nCW loundaLlon's lnvesLlgaLlon found convlnclng evldence LhaL women served by crlsls pregnancy
cenLers are noL only ofLen mlslead abouL Lhe servlces and ldeologlcal perspecLlve of Lhe cenLers, buL LhaL
ln addlLlon Lo pushlng an anLl-cholce agenda, cenLers also provlded women wlLh false lnformaLlon abouL
aborLlon.
!"#$%&'()&'#$*+,--)./*
As parL of our lnvesLlgaLlon, nCW loundaLlon lnvesLlgaLors made 14 LoLal vlslLs Lo 10 cllnlcs and
conducLed 23 phone calls Lo an addlLlonal 19 of Lhe esLlmaLed 79 CCs ln Wlsconsln. Cur lnvesLlgaLlon
also revlewed CC adverLlslng, boLh prlnL and onllne, Lo assess wheLher CCs were honesL ln Lhelr
promoLlons. We soughL Lo answer Lhree quesLlons:
Are Wlsconsln's CCs forLhrlghL and honesL ln Lhelr promoLlon and adverLlslng?
Are Wlsconsln's CCs glvlng accuraLe lnformaLlon abouL Lhe full range of reproducLlve-healLh
opLlons Lo women faclng an unlnLended pregnancy?
ls lnformaLlon and counsellng provlded by CCs medlcally and eLhlcally sound?

1
Comp, naLhan !. Wlsconsln sLaLe healLh webslLe sLeers women Loward falLh-based pregnancy cenLer." lsLhmus -
1he ually age. hLLp://www.lsLhmus.com/dally/arLlcle.php?arLlcle=34243


CPCs Exposed



NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin Foundation

3

Cur lnvesLlgaLlon resulLs show LhaL CCs conslsLenLly use mlsleadlng and decepLlve adverLlslng
pracLlces, are ofLen noL forLhrlghL regardlng Lhe ldeology of Lhelr counsellng, and provlde lnaccuraLe and
medlcally dlsproven lnformaLlon Lo women. lor example, desplLe adverLlslng pregnancy LesLlng,
ulLrasounds, and oLher servlces as free", aL 100 of Lhe CCs vlslLed, Lhese servlces were free" only
afLer women parLlclpaLed ln blased-counsellng sesslons LhaL use gullL, fear, lnLlmldaLlon, and/or
mlslnformaLlon Lo dlssuade women from chooslng aborLlon. CLher flndlngs from our vlslLs Lo CCs
lnclude:
100 of CCs advlsed LhaL aborLlon leads Lo menLal healLh problems, referred Lo as posL-
aborLlon syndrome," a phenomenon LhaL has been conslsLenLly proven noL Lo exlsL.
100 of CCs lnformed lnvesLlgaLors orally or ln wrlLLen maLerlals LhaL aborLlon causes breasL
cancer, a clalm LhaL has been medlcally dlsproven.
100 of CCs where emergency conLracepLlon was dlscussed advlsed LhaL emergency
conLracepLlon ls dangerous Lo physlcal and/or menLal healLh.
90 of CCs ln our lnvesLlgaLlon advlsed conLracepLlon leads Lo lncreased rlsk of breasL cancer.
80 of CCs lnvesLlgaLed asserLed LhaL aborLlon severely lmpacLs a woman's ablllLy Lo bear
fuLure chlldren, a clalm also wldely dlsproven by leglLlmaLe medlcal sLudles.
1he hlgh percenLage of CCs provldlng Lhls false and dlsproven lnformaLlon Lo women ls alarmlng. All
women deserve Lhe LruLh regardlng Lhelr medlcal opLlons. 1he facL LhaL lncorrecL lnformaLlon ls used Lo
dlssuade or scare women away from exerclslng Lhelr rlghL Lo choose ls a Lroubllng pracLlce.
156'$.)-#$5++#37,&'530)
8ased on Lhese flndlngs, and oLhers dlscussed ln Lhe full reporL, nCW loundaLlon recommends Lhe
followlng:
1. A robusL and broad publlc educaLlon campalgn Lo ensure women know abouL Lhe llmlLed scope
of CCs' servlces and Lhelr ldeologlcal anLl-cholce poslLlon.
2. 8egulaLlon of adverLlslng Lo ensure women are noL mlsled abouL Lhe servlces CCs provlde,
Lhrough LruLh-ln-adverLlslng laws or requlred dlsclalmers Lo lnform women of Lhe llmlLed scope
of CC servlces.
3. Local and/or sLaLe level leglslaLlon Lo ensure LhaL women enLerlng leglLlmaLe healLhcare
faclllLles are noL harassed by CC sLaff, volunLeers, or sldewalk counselors" when Lrylng Lo
access leglLlmaLe women's healLh care faclllLles.
4. 8egulaLlon Lo requlre LhaL CCs keep cllenL or paLlenL confldenLlallLy as ls requlred by medlcal
and counsellng cllnlcs and requlre LhaL CCs make cllenL or paLlenL records avallable Lo Lhe
paLlenL, should she deslre Lo seek care elsewhere.


CPCs Exposed



NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin Foundation
4
48,&)'0),)/-'0'0)1-#23,3$.)/#3&#-9:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::)
Crlsls pregnancy cenLers - or CCs - are faclllLles LhaL adverLlse as all-opLlons counsellng and resources
for women faclng unlnLended pregnancy. CCs may offer free counsellng, baby supplles, pregnancy
LesLlng, and ulLrasounds or oLher medlcal servlces. CfLen poslng as comprehenslve healLh-care cllnlcs
and employlng decepLlve adverLlslng LacLlcs, Lhelr acLual purpose ls Lo mlslead and manlpulaLe women
abouL all of Lhelr pregnancy opLlons.
Cur lnvesLlgaLlon of CCs ln Wlsconsln reveals LhaL cumulaLlvely, Lhese cenLers funcLlon as Lhe provlder
arm of Lhe anLl-cholce movemenL. CCs pose as comprehenslve medlcal cenLers, and, Lhrough Lhe use of
dlscredlLed sclenLlflc clalms and emoLlonally manlpulaLlve counsellng, push women faclng unlnLended
pregnancy Lo make declslons wlLhouL accuraLe lnformaLlon abouL Lhe full range of reproducLlve cholces
avallable Lo Lhem. 1hese CCs have a clear mlsslon Lo block women from exerclslng Lhelr rlghL Lo
choose.
;<=<>)1-5?/85'$#)4'0$530'3)@5%37,&'53)A3(#0&'2,&'53)5B)/1/0::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::)
Cur lnvesLlgaLlon, conducLed by 13 volunLeer
lnvesLlgaLors, lncluded 14 ln-person vlslLs Lo 10 cllnlcs
locaLed ln Lhree counLles, webslLe analyses, and 23
phone calls Lo an addlLlonal 19 of Lhe sLaLe's
esLlmaLed 79 CCs.
2
We soughL Lo answer Lhe
followlng quesLlons:
Are Wlsconsln's CCs forLhrlghL and honesL ln
Lhelr promoLlon and adverLlslng?
Are Wlsconsln's CCs glvlng accuraLe
lnformaLlon abouL Lhe full range of
reproducLlve-healLh opLlons Lo women faclng
an unlnLended pregnancy?
ls lnformaLlon and counsellng provlded by
CCs medlcally and eLhlcally sound?

C'06#,7'32)<7(#-&'0'32),37)1-5+5&'53::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::)
!
We researched adverLlsemenLs for Wlsconsln's CCs boLh ln prlnL and on Lhe lnLerneL. rlnL ads
composed of flyers and adverLlsemenLs on busses and bus shelLers, and our onllne adverLlslng research
conslsLed prlmarlly of pay-per-cllck" sponsored llnks on search englnes llke Coogle and onllne
dlrecLorles such as yellowpages.com. We also noLe organlc" search resulLs-unpald llnks LhaL appear
on Lhe flrsL page of an lnLerneL search.

2
Crlsls regnancy CenLers ln Wlsconsln". Llfecall www.llfecall.org/cpcs/wlsconsln.hLml, May 7,2012
Map of CC |ocat|ons throughout the State of W|scons|n!


CPCs Exposed



NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin Foundation

3
"#$%&!'()*#&$+$%,!"-./*0*%&!!
1he placemenL and conLenL of prlnL adverLlsemenLs, parLlcularly Lhose ln Madlson and Mllwaukee
reveals Lhelr llkely lnLenL: Lo LargeL college sLudenLs and low-lncome women. llgure 1 shows an
adverLlsemenL on one of Madlson MeLro's bus rouLes LhaL servlces, free of charge, excluslvely Lhe
unlverslLy of Wlsconsln campus and surroundlng sLudenL-populaLed area.
rlnL adverLlsemenLs for CCs ofLen
appear carlng and reassurlng. 1he LargeL
audlence of Lhe adverLlsemenL ln llgure 1
ls clear: young women faclng a crlsls
pregnancy and conslderlng aborLlon. lLs
reassurlng lmagery masks Lhe reallLy LhaL
CpLlonLlne refers callers Lo ofLen-blased
CCs LhaL wlll noL offer comprehenslve
lnformaLlon abouL pregnancy opLlons. A
call Lo CpLlonLlne conflrmed LhaL lLs
phone operaLors dlrecLed women
excluslvely Lo faclllLles LhaL dld noL
provlde or refer for aborLlon care. Whlle
phone operaLors, upon requesL, dlvulged Lhls facL, Lhe adverLlsemenL ls so vague LhaL lL ls llkely a reader
would lnfer lL would dlrecL her Lo a comprehenslve healLh-care cenLer.
llgure 2 ls a leafleL dlsLrlbuLed by a Madlson CC locaLed ad[acenL Lo a lanned arenLhood healLh
cenLer LhaL provldes a full range of reproducLlve healLh servlces-lncludlng aborLlon.
I|gure 1: 8us advert|sement for Cpt|on L|ne, an ant|-cho|ce organ|zat|on
that w||| d|rect the ca||er to her nearest CC.!
I|gure 2: Leaf|et d|str|buted by Women's Care Center, target|ng |ow-|ncome women through offers of
free serv|ces and mater|a| goods2.!


CPCs Exposed



NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin Foundation
6
Whlle on Lhelr face, boLh of Lhese adverLlsemenLs may seem lnnocuous, Lhelr effecL-and llkely lnLenL-
ls Lo lure a vulnerable woman lnLo a crlsls pregnancy cenLers wlLhouL her knowledge of Lhe naLure of lLs
servlces. lor example, Lhe adverLlsemenL ln llgure 2 offers free servlces and maLerlal goods Lo women,
a promlse LhaL may be parLlcularly appeallng Lo women wlLh llmlLed flnanclal resources. Powever, our
lnvesLlgaLlon lnLo Lhese cenLers found LhaL aL 100 of Lhe CCs vlslLed, pregnancy LesLlng, ulLrasounds,
and oLher servlces are only free" afLer women parLlclpaLe
ln blased-counsellng sesslons LhaL use gullL, fear,
lnLlmldaLlon, and/or mlslnformaLlon Lo dlssuade women
from chooslng aborLlon. 8y maklng access Lo Lhe servlces
conLlngenL on counsellng sesslons" lL appears llkely Lhey
are lnLended more as a Lool of persuaslon Lhan a genulne
lnLeresL ln lendlng supporL Lo Lhe woman.
"#10$+$%,!2*($/.-!3*#)$/*+!&1!45#*!610*%!
100 of Lhe CCs called and vlslLed by our lnvesLlgaLors
offered free pregnancy LesLs and/or ulLrasound servlces.
Cffers of medlcal servlces lmplles Lo women LhaL Lhe CC
ls a medlcal faclllLy wlLh a full range of reproducLlve-
healLh servlces and are more Lhan llkely lnLended Lo lure
women seeklng Lhese servlces Lo Lhe CC lnsLead of a
leglLlmaLe cllnlc.
1hese LacLlcs confuse women seeklng aborLlon care and
dlverL Lhem from a faclllLy LhaL wlll provlde full and honesL
lnformaLlon. Cne aborLlon provlder ln Mllwaukee reporLs LhaL CC sLaff or volunLeers come across Lhe
sLreeL and offer free ulLrasounds Lo women enLerlng Lhe aborLlon cllnlc. A CC counselor offerlng one of
our lnvesLlgaLors an ulLrasound used a slmllar LacLlc, saylng, ?ou have Lo have an ulLrasound no maLLer
whaL. Curs are free and lf you have one aL an aborLlon cllnlc, Lhey are golng Lo charge you. lf you don'L
have a vlable pregnancy, havlng an aborLlon lsn'L golng Lo do anyLhlng abouL LhaL."
Sadly, Lhls rheLorlc ls noL unlque, CC umbrella organlzaLlons encourage CCs across Lhe counLry Lo use
Lhls LacLlc Lo dlverL women from leglLlmaLe cllnlcs. Cne Lralner aL a naLlonal CC conference advlsed:
Cne of Lhe Lhlngs LhaL l encourage people when women . ask 'do you provlde aborLlon servlces?'.say
someLhlng llke Lhls: 'no, we do noL provlde aborLlon servlces, buL we Jo provlde olttosoooJs. And
you're golng Lo need Lo have an ulLrasound before you have your aborLlon. So you can come ln here and
you can geL your ulLrasound done for free. 8ecause you're gonna have Lo have lL anyway when you
have an aborLlon.'"
[l]
1hls approach Lakes advanLage of Lhe llkely anxleLy LhaL comes wlLh faclng an

[i]
RH Reality Check, Abby Johnson Explains To CPCs How To Use Forced Ultrasound Bills To Lie and Get
Women In the Door, April 8, 2012, at http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/article/2012/04/08/abby-johnson-
explains-to-cpcs-how-to-lie-to-get-women-in-door (emphasis added) (last visited on Oct. 26, 2012).

0$().1'"(*2)#'"(*)"*,3&.)%4,"15*
)*64,"%$34.*&431*4,.*'"#$%&'()&4.5*
784,*2)#$*&4*2)#$*)"*,3&.)%4,"1*
"4*-)&&$.*92)&:*;,.%*).$*<.$$*
)"1*'<*/4,*2)#$*4"$*)&*)"*
)=4.&'4"*63'"'65*&2$/*).$*(4'"(*&4*
62).($*/4,:*!<*/4,*14">&*2)#$*)*
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)=4.&'4"*'%">&*(4'"(*&4*14*
)"/&2'"(*)=4,&*&2)&:@**
A4&$B*C'%64"%'"*3)9*6,..$"&3/*.$D,'.$%*
)"*,3&.)%4,"1*=$*4<<$.$1*=,&*"4&*&2)&*)*
94-)"*2)#$*4"$:*


CPCs Exposed



NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin Foundation

7
unlnLended pregnancy, uses ulLrasounds Lo lncenLlvlze women Lo enLer Lhelr cllnlcs, where women are
Lhen provlded false and mlsleadlng lnformaLlon regardlng aborLlon.
4*,$&$0./7!89#15,9!"#1:$0$&7!.%(!2$+-*.($%,!;.0*+!
CCs also may choose names slmllar Lo Lhose of comprehenslve reproducLlve-healLh cllnlcs LhaL provlde
aborLlon servlces and locaLe Lhemselves near leglLlmaLe cllnlcs. Many of Wlsconsln's CCs are locaLed
very near publlc-healLh cenLers or oLher well-known sources of reproducLlve-healLh care, glvlng Lhem an
alr of leglLlmacy or confuslng women who are seeklng leglLlmaLe healLh care or counsellng. ln Madlson
and Mllwaukee ln parLlcular, Lhls manlfesLs lLself as CCs locaLed ln Lhe same block as lanned
arenLhood and oLher women's healLh cenLers. 1wo of Wlsconsln's four women's healLh cenLers LhaL
provlde aborLlon servlces have CCs locaLed lmmedlaLely across Lhe sLreeL. Cne cenLer vlslLed by our
lnvesLlgaLors ln Madlson ls locaLed ln Lhe same bulldlng as a uane CounLy ubllc PealLh Cllnlc and
anoLher ln !anesvllle was locaLed lnslde a pharmacy.
MaLerlals from Women's Care CenLer, Lhe operaLor of CCs ln boLh Madlson and Mllwaukee, show LhaL
Lhe placemenL of Lhese CCs ls noL colncldenLal (llgures 3 and 4). , 1he maLerlals sLaLe expllclLly Lhe
lnLenLlon of locaLlng cenLers ln close proxlmlLy Lo aborLlon provlders. Cne even boasLs of decelvlng
women who come ln Lhrough Lhe wrong door" aL Lhe Mllwaukee CC when Lhey belleved Lhey were
enLerlng Lhe aborLlon cllnlc locaLed nearby.
1he lmpacL of locaLlng CCs near comprehenslve women's healLh care provlders ls magnlfled when
coupled wlLh mlsleadlng CC names. Wlsconsln's CCs evoke lmages of hollsLlc, leglLlmaLe women's
healLh cenLers by employlng such words as: Access, cote, womeos cote, womeos ceotet, ooJ
coooselloq. Cur lnvesLlgaLors found a sLark example of Lhls Lrend ln Lhelr vlslL Lo a CC named Access
Women's CenLer LhaL was locaLed ln Lhe same bulldlng as a publlc-healLh faclllLy and on Lhe same sLreeL
as Access CommunlLy PealLh, a leglLlmaLe communlLy-healLh cenLer. Clvlng CCs names LhaL closely
resemble Lhose of leglLlmaLe healLh care provlders decelves women looklng for acLual comprehenslve
care.


CPCs Exposed



NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin Foundation
8

:QQP
Planned Parenthood ls Madlson's only abortlon provlder, located on Orln Poad lmmedlately east of the clty
[ust on of U.S. 5l. Thls large cllnlc attracts women from throughout the entlre reglon. The wlsconsln Department
of Health Statlstlcs reported 1,732 women from Dane County and the immediateIy adjacent counties had
abortions during 2008. 7his represents 22% of the abortions performed in the state of Wisconsin.
`TQ9[PQX
The proposed new center wlll be located lmmedlately across the street from the Planned Parenthood
abortlon cllnlc on Orln Poad. 7he center wiII be modeIed after Women's Care Center, the nation's Iargest
pregnancy resource center. The Madlson center wlll be the l8th repllcatlon of thls hlghly successful model.
Last year, aII Women's Care Center sites served 14,905 women who made nearIy 70,000 on-site visits.
wlth a home-llke presence, promlnent slgnage and ultrasound on-slte, the new center wlll be a magnet
for pregnant women ln need. The center wlll provlde uncondltlonal love and support as well as prenatal
educatlon, ultrasounds, parentlng skllls classes, and tanglble asslstance under an lncentlve program to
encourage good parentlng and self-sumclency. |n a recent study ln Port wayne (|N), 97% of those recelvlng
counsellng and an ultrasound at the women's Care Center chose llfe for thelr bables. At the newest outreach
ln Mllwaukee (w|), ln the rst few weeks alone, over two dozen women came through the "wrong door
looklng for the abortlon cllnlc. NearIy aII chose Iife for their babies.
women's Care Center was founded by Dr. 1anet L. Smlth ln South 8end (|N) twenty slx years ago.
8lshop Lmerltus 1ohn M. D'Arcy of the Port wayne-South 8end Dlocese credlts the center as
iTBWJOHNPSFMJWFTUIBOBOZPUIFSPSHBOJ[BUJPOJOUIFDPVOUSZw
:Qd`?`Q\_
- uiId a strong board of directors
- Design a cost-eective
and aestheticaIIy pIeasing
"home-Iike" center
- Dbtain major gift support
(Iounder's CircIe members wiIIing to
pIedge $25,000 over the 2 year start-up
and Life Partners wiIIing to contribute
$1,500 or more.)
Dur mission is to heIp more
young women choose Iife
for their babies through the
creation of a strategicaIIy
Iocated pregnancy outreach
in Madison, Wisconsin.
I|gure 3: Iundra|s|ng mater|a|s for Women's Care Center |n Mad|son stat|ng, "At the newest outreach |n
M||waukee (WI), |n the f|rst few weeks a|one, over two dozen women came through the 'wrong door' |ook|ng for
the abort|on c||n|c."


CPCs Exposed



NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin Foundation

9


)
)
)
10
!"#$%&'(() *$%+,
3711 Orin Road
Womens Care Center opened its door in Madison
in January 2012. The center was the dream of
three couples who purchased the building directly
across the street from the Planned Parenthood
abortion clinic. After seeing our outreach in
Milwaukee, the Madison group knew they wanted
a center in their community.
One of the rst young women served was a graduate
student. She had received birth control from
Planned Parenthood and was dismayed to nd out
she was pregnant. However, after counseling and
an ultrasound, she chose life instead. Experience
has shown that locating beautiful and comforting
centers near places that perform abortions can
touch the hearts of even the most abortion-minded
women.
Smiles abound as this young couple looks at the
ultrasound picture of their precious unborn baby.
Many thanks to our partner,
Our Sunday Visitor Institute, for their help
in opening the Madison center.
-.($%("(/$0"1234
that a building became available directly across the street from one of the largest abortion
clinics in the state of Wisconsin.
Womens Care Center
Pregnancy testing and counseling
Ultrasounds
Prenatal education and birth preparation
Prenatal vitamins
Community referrals
Parenting skills classes
Adoption education
Baby basics, including safe sleep education
Self-suciency training
Crib Club (cribs, diapers and baby items)
Books for children
5306$13%
I|gure 4: A page from the Women's Care Center annua| report stat|ng, "It |s a m|rac|e that a bu||d|ng became
ava||ab|e d|rect|y across the street from one of the |argest abort|on c||n|cs |n the state of W|scons|n," |n reference to
Mad|son's newest CC |ocated d|rect|y across the street from a |anned arenthood c||n|c where abort|on serv|ces
are prov|ded.


CPCs Exposed



NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin Foundation
10
<*/*=&$)*!>%&*#%*&!'()*#&$+$%,!
ln a day and age when mosL people gaLher much of Lhelr news and lnformaLlon on-llne, CCs have
recognlzed Lhe lnLerneL as a powerful Lool Lo reach Lhelr LargeL audlences. 1hrough Lhe use of pay-per-
cllck" adverLlslng on large search englnes such as Coogle, ?ahoo, and 8lng, CCs ln Wlsconsln and
elsewhere LhroughouL Lhe naLlon reach women faclng unlnLended pregnancles and seeklng aborLlon
servlces or oLher leglLlmaLe healLh care. 1wo of Lhe largesL anLl-cholce organlzaLlons ln Amerlca - Care
neL and PearLbeaL lnLernaLlonal - spend more Lhan $18,000 per monLh purchaslng pay-per-cllck
adverLlsemenLs for Lhelr webslLes and call cenLers whlch refer women Lo Lhelr nearesL CCs.
3

1hough none of Lhe CCs lnvesLlgaLed provlde aborLlon care or referrals for aborLlon, women searchlng
on Lhe lnLerneL for aborLlon or all-opLlons counsellng servlces are dlrecLed Lo CCs who pay for Lop spoLs
on search englnes desplLe noL provldlng Lhe servlce belng searched. llgure 3 conLalns Lhe resulLs of a
Coogle search for madlson wl aborLlon". Cn Lhe enLlre flrsL page of search resulLs, only one of Lhe
seven locaLlons llsLed ls a leglLlmaLe aborLlon provlder. 1he remalnlng resulLs are all CCs or
organlzaLlons LhaL refer women Lo CCs, and Lhree of Lhese are ln Lhe pald Coogle ad secLlon. Cur
lnvesLlgaLors vlslLed each of Lhe CCs llsLed on Lhls page, and none provlde aborLlon care or referrals for
aborLlon. 1hls lncludes Lhe Lhree CC pald adverLlslng resulLs under Lhe search Lerm Madlson Wl
aborLlon."
lnvesLlgaLors had slmllar resulLs when searchlng
for pregnancy Madlson, Wl" and AborLlon
cllnlcs ln Madlson, Wlsconsln." lnvesLlgaLors also
repllcaLed Lhe searches for boLh Mllwaukee and
AppleLon, Lhe oLher Lwo clLles where aborLlon
provlders are locaLed, wlLh slmllar resulLs: CCs
domlnaLed Lhe resulLs, even when speclflcally
uslng Lhe search Lerm aborLlon cllnlc."

3
Moulla, uanlelle, and SamanLha 8eynolds. uomoskloq loke cllolcs. 1be 1totb Aboot ctlsls lteqooocy ceotets lo
collfotolo, 8ep. San lranclsco: nA8AL ro-Cholce Callfornla loundaLlon, 2010. rlnL.
I|gure S: kesu|ts of a Goog|e search for "Abort|on Mad|son,
WI" |n wh|ch S of the f|rst 7 ||st|ngs are CCs.!



CPCs Exposed



NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin Foundation

11
@,60#)C#7'$,6)A3B5-+,&'53:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::)
CCs have an anLl-cholce dlrecLlve LhaL ofLen ls noL made known Lo women unLll Lhey enLer Lhe CC.
1helr adverLlsemenLs and phone counselors lnslnuaLe Lhelr wllllngness Lo provlde all-opLlons"
counsellng Lo pregnanL women. Cur lnvesLlgaLlons found, however, LhaL once women are enLlced lnLo
CCs, Lhey may be sub[ecLed Lo a varleLy of coerclve and offenslve LacLlcs lnLended Lo prevenL Lhem
from exerclslng Lhelr rlghL Lo choose. Cne of Lhe mosL alarmlng LacLlcs was a wllllngness Lo glve false
medlcal lnformaLlon Lo women enLerlng CCs. 1he opLlons counsellng" aL 100 percenL of Lhe CCs
vlslLed employed lnaccuraLe and decepLlve lnformaLlon deslgned Lo scare women away from
conslderlng aborLlon care.
AnLl-cholce acLlvlsLs have long hoped Lo flnd sclenLlflc supporL
for Lhelr clalms LhaL aborLlon causes a range of negaLlve
healLh effecLs. Cur lnvesLlgaLors observed slmllar LacLlcs and
Lhemes across all of Lhe CCs vlslLed. AborLlon was
conslsLenLly porLrayed as an unsafe, unnaLural medlcal
procedure LhaL could lead Lo Lerrlble shorL- and long-Lerm
resulLs. ln our lnvesLlgaLlon, each clalm made by CC
counselors abouL Lhe effecLs of aborLlon has been dlsproven
by Lhe sclenLlflc and medlcal communlLy. 1he mlslnformaLlon
was promlnenL ln boLh Lhe oral counsellng and ln Lhe wrlLLen
lnformaLlon dlsLrlbuLed by Lhe counselors.
lor example, one CC counselor gave a pamphleL Lo our
lnvesLlgaLor enLlLled 8efote oo ueclJe. Ao Abottloo Jocotloo
kesootce. 1hls pamphleL answers Lhe quesLlon, Should l be
concerned abouL havlng an aborLlon?" wlLh AborLlon ls noL
[usL a slmple medlcal procedure. lor many women, lL ls a llfe-
changlng evenL wlLh slgnlflcanL physlcal, emoLlonal, and
splrlLual consequences. MosL women who sLruggle wlLh pasL aborLlons say LhaL Lhey wlsh Lhey had been
Lold all of Lhe facLs abouL aborLlon."
4
AnoLher pamphleL, dlsLrlbuLed aL Lwo dlfferenL CCs vlslLed ln our
lnvesLlgaLlon, descrlbes Lhe supposed sympLoms of posL-aborLlon syndrome (see llgure 6). nelLher of
Lhese clalms ls Lrue.
Powever, lL was clear ln our lnvesLlgaLlon of CCs LhaL Lhey have no lnLenLlon of provldlng Lhe facLs"
and lnsLead relled on a range of unmerlLed clalms of Lhe medlcal consequences" of aborLlon Lo furLher
Lhelr anLl-cholce agenda.


4
8efote oo ueclJe. Ao Abottloo Jocotloo kesootce. Care neL, 2007. rlnL.
;"$*EFE*64,"%$34.*'"*
G)"$%#'33$*&431*4,.*
'"#$%&'()&4.5*7!*H"49*%4-$4"$*
924*2)1*)"*)=4.&'4"*/$).%*
)(45*)"1*"49*%2$*6)""4&*$#$"*
,%$*)*#)6,,-*63$)"$.:@*
I"4&2$.*'"#$%&'()&4.*.$?4.&$1*
&2)&*)*EFE*64,"%$34.*'"*
J)1'%4"*63)'-$1*&4*2)#$*)*
%'%&$.*924*2)1*&2$*%)-$*
$K?$.'$"6$:*


CPCs Exposed



NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin Foundation
12
uesplLe ample sclenLlflc evldence Lo Lhe conLrary, our lnvesLlgaLlon found LhaL posL-aborLlon syndrome
was Lhe mosL-clLed reason by CC volunLeers or workers for why women should noL pursue aborLlon
and was also used Lo [usLlfy Lhe CCs' refusal Lo refer women Lo aborLlon provlders.
?-.$0+!1@!31A?.--*(!"1+&A'B1#&$1%!37%(#10*!
lrom Lhe momenL our lnvesLlgaLors walked Lhrough Lhe doors of Lhe CCs, volunLeers and sLaff puL
Lremendous focus on Lhe damage Lo a woman's fuLure emoLlonal and splrlLual healLh, should Lhey
choose Lo go Lhrough wlLh an aborLlon. ln 100 of our vlslLs, counselors referenced posL-aborLlon
syndrome," a dellberaLely sclenLlflc-soundlng name for a menLal healLh phenomenon LhaL has
conslsLenLly been proven noL Lo exlsL.
3
osL-AborLlon Syndrome ls noL recognlzed by Lhe Amerlcan
sychologlcal AssoclaLlon's uloqoostlc ooJ 5totlstlcol Mooool of Meotol ulsotJet
6
s or by Lhe World
PealLh CrganlzaLlon's lotetootloool 5totlstlcol closslflcotloo of ulseoses ooJ keloteJ neoltb ltoblems.
7

1he counselors Lrled Lo lend credlblllLy Lo posL-aborLlon syndrome by dlsLrlbuLlng pamphleLs for 8achel's
vlneyard, a reLreaL" program of Lhe anLl-cholce rlesLs for Llfe for women who have had an aborLlon,
and oLher lnformaLlon abouL heallng afLer aborLlon and by sharlng sLorles of women who allegedly
suffered menLal-healLh Lrauma afLer Lhelr aborLlons. llgure 6, below, shows an excerpL from a pamphleL
LlLled neolloq Aftet Abottloo, dlsLrlbuLed aL Lwo of Lhe CCs our lnvesLlgaLors vlslLed, LhaL descrlbes Lhe
supposed sympLoms of osL-AborLlon Syndrome.

3
Cohen, Susan A. AborLlon and MenLal PealLh: MyLhs and 8eallLles." Cottmocbet lollcy kevlew 9.J (2006).
Cottmocbet lostltote. Web, 7 May 2012.
6
uloqoostlc ooJ 5totlstlcol Mooool of Meotol ulsotJets. u5M-lv-1k. WashlngLon, uC: Amerlcan sychologlcal
AssoclaLlon, 2000.
7
World PealLh CrganlzaLlon. lotetootloool 5totlstlcol closslflcotloo of ulseoses ooJ keloteJ neoltb ltoblems. 10
Lh

8evlslon ed. vol. 2
I|gure 6: Irom a pamph|et t|t|ed !"#$%&'()*+",()-.,+%.&/(wh|ch was(d|str|buted at two
CCs v|s|ted by our |nvest|gators, the supposed symptoms of ost-Abort|on Syndrome.!



CPCs Exposed



NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin Foundation

13
Cne CC counselor Lold an lnvesLlgaLor, Some women, lL doesn'L hlL Lhem unLll 20, 30 years laLer when
Lhey're plannlng a famlly. WhaL was LhaL pregnancy Lhen? Was LhaL a baby? Cr was LhaL [usL a clump of
Llssue? Cr was LhaL an unwanLed baby?" AL Lwo dlfferenL CCs, counselors Lold sLorles of women who
had prevlously had aborLlons and now cannoL even use a vacuum cleaner."
ln 80 percenL of Lhe CCs ln our lnvesLlgaLlon, Lhe counselors speclflcally sLaLed LhaL Lhey would noL
refer for aborLlon servlces because Lhey had personally wlLnessed Lhe afLer-effecLs of aborLlon and
would noL puL women Lhrough LhaL Lrauma. Cne counselor explalned, We also don'L provlde referrals
for aborLlons here, and lL's [usL because we see a loL of women come ln Lo us afLer Lhey've had Lhem,
and Lhey're sLruggllng a loL afLerwards."
When asked by one of our lnvesLlgaLors, uoes Lhe lanned
arenLhood across Lhe sLreeL provlde aborLlons?" Lhe
counselor answered, ?ou would have Lo call Lhere Lo flnd ouL.
l cannoL ln good falLh refer you for aborLlon. l've seen
aborLlons hurL women. l really have."
As noLed above, CCs run vague ads, leavlng women wlLh Lhe
lmpresslon LhaL Lhey are seeklng asslsLance from a
comprehenslve women's healLh servlce, LhaL would lnclude
dlscusslon of aborLlon as an opLlon. Powever, once lnslde Lhe
doors, women are meL wlLh refusal Lo provlde referrals Lo
comprehenslve healLh servlces and lnformaLlon regardlng a
supposed posL-aborLlon medlcal condlLlon LhaL ls noL
recognlzed Lhe medlcal communlLy.
8
!
C.-+*!?1%%*/&$1%!D*&E**%!'B1#&$1%!.%(!D#*.+&!?.%/*#
ln 100 percenL of Lhe vlslLs Lo CCs ln our lnvesLlgaLlon, lnvesLlgaLors were elLher Lold orally by
counselors or ln wrlLlng Lhrough pamphleLs dlsLrlbuLed durlng Lhe vlslLs LhaL aborLlon leads Lo breasL
cancer. uesplLe Lhe naLlonal Cancer lnsLlLuLe's flndlng LhaL recenL stoJles cooslsteotly sboweJ oo
ossoclotloo betweeo loJoceJ ooJ spootooeoos obottloos ooJ bteost coocet," (emphasls added)
9
aL every
CC vlslLed our lnvesLlgaLors were presenLed wlLh Lhls alleged llnkage as parL of Lhelr aLLempL Lo
dlssuade Lhe pregnanL or poLenLlally pregnanL women from conslderlng aborLlon as an opLlon.

8
See fooLnoLes 3 & 6, supra.
9
naLlonal Cancer lnsLlLuLe Abottloo, Mlscottloqe, ooJ 8teost coocet klsk, Aprll, 2003
C2$"*)%H$1*1'.$6&3/*'<*&2$*
F3)""$1*F).$"&2441*)6.4%%*
&2$*%&.$$&*?.4#'1$1*)=4.&'4"%5*
)*EFE*64,"%$34.*.$?3'$15*784,*
94,31*2)#$*&4*6)33*&2$.$*&4*
<'"1*4,&:*!*6)""4&*'"*(441*
<)'&2*.$<$.*/4,*<4.*)=4.&'4":*
!>#$*%$$"*)=4.&'4"%*2,.&*
94-$":*!*.$)33/*2)#$:@))


CPCs Exposed



NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin Foundation
14
'B1#&$1%!.%(!C5&5#*!C*#&$-$&7!
LlghLy percenL of Lhe CCs lnvesLlgaLed asserLed LhaL aborLlon
severely lmpacLs a woman's ablllLy Lo bear fuLure chlldren, a
clalm also wldely dlsproven by leglLlmaLe medlcal sLudles. 1he
LhreaL aborLlon poses Lo fuLure lnferLlllLy ofLen was coupled
wlLh rheLorlc and warnlngs of sLrong emoLlonal llmlLaLlons
relaLed Lo bondlng wlLh fuLure chlldren. AL 100 percenL of Lhe
CCs lnvesLlgaLed, counselors reporLed exLreme emoLlonal
dlsLress ln women who have had aborLlons when Lhey declde
Lo have chlldren ln Lhe fuLure. Accordlng Lo one pamphleL
dlsLrlbuLed aL a CC, women who have had aborLlons were
splrlLually lnferLlle because Lhe grlef, anger, and gullL [Lhe]
woman felL abouL Lhe evenLs surroundlng her aborLlon were never processed."
10

When Lalklng abouL Lhe rlsks assoclaLed wlLh aborLlon, one CC counselor explalned, 1here can be
lnferLlllLy. l don'L know lf you wanL chlldren laLer or noL." AnoLher CC counselor shared a sLory of a
woman who could noL geL pregnanL afLer an aborLlon, Lelllng our lnvesLlgaLor, Ch, one Llme we had a
glrl come ln and she wenL Lo geL an aborLlon, and she couldn'L geL pregnanL agaln." Clalms by CC
counselors LhaL aborLlon causes lnferLlllLy are sLlll belng shared wlLh women comlng lnLo Lhe CCs
desplLe Lhe facL LhaL Lhese clalms have been refuLed by a slgnlflcanL body of medlcal research.
11

<$+&1#&$%,!F&9*#!2*($/.-!G$+H+!1@!'B1#&$1%!
CCs vlslLed by our lnvesLlgaLors all porLrayed varlous aborLlon meLhods as unsafe, unorLhodox,
compllcaLed, and gruesome procedures LhaL puL women aL slgnlflcanL medlcal rlsk.
1he speclflc charges agalnsL aborLlon meLhods varled - from excesslve bleedlng and hemorrhaglng Lo
Lhe llkellhood LhaL Lhe docLor would puncLure Lhe llnlng of Lhe uLerus. Counselors spoke of serlous
healLh rlsks wlLhouL any menLlon of accompanylng raLes of occurrence, leavlng women wlLh Lhe
lmpresslon LhaL aborLlon ls unsafe and noL a vlable opLlon. never ln any of our vlslLs or phone calls Lo
CCs was lL menLloned LhaL legal aborLlon ls a safe medlcal procedure when performed or prescrlbed by
a quallfled provlder.
12


10
neolloq Aftet Abottloo. lJeotlfyloq ooJ Ovetcomloq lost-Abottloo 5yoJtome. amphleL obLalned aL CCs ln boLh
Madlson and Mllwaukee.
11
naLlonal AborLlon lederaLlon, Abottloo locts. 5ofety of Abottloo,
hLLp://www.procholce.org/abouL_aborLlon/facLs/safeLy_of_aborLlon.hLml wlLh addlLlonal clLaLlons avallable.
12
naLlonal AborLlon lederaLlon, Abottloo locts. 5ofety of Abottloo,
hLLp://www.procholce.org/abouL_aborLlon/facLs/safeLy_of_aborLlon.hLml, wlLh addlLlonal clLaLlons avallable.
LK?3)'"'"(*&2$*%,??4%$1*.'%H%*
4<*)=4.&'4"5*&2$*EFE*64,"%$34.*
6244%$%*)"$614&$%*4#$.*
$#'1$"6$5*%)/'"(5*7;25*4"$*
&'-$*9$*2)1*)*('.3*64-$*'"*
)"1*%2$*9$"&*&4*($&*)"*
)=4.&'4"5*)"1*%2$*64,31">&*($&*
?.$(")"&*)()'":@*


CPCs Exposed



NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin Foundation

13
3/.#*!8./&$/+!.%(!>%&$0$(.&$1%:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::)
lnvesLlgaLors descrlbed each CC vlslLed as warm," welcomlng," and lnvlLlng." MosL were equlpped
wlLh plush carpeLs and comforLable furnlLure. WalLlng rooms were adorned wlLh arLwork on Lhe walls
and baskeLs and baskeLs of free lLems for pregnanL women and lnfanLs. uesplLe Lhelr comforLlng
lnLerlor decor, durlng counsellng sesslons lnvesLlgaLors were sub[ecLed Lo a range of scare LacLlcs and
even coerclon.
"#$1#$&$I$%,!.%!.%&$A/91$/*!.,*%(.!1)*#!E10*%J+!+.@*&7!
1he volunLeer counselors aL each of Lhe CCs vlslLed ldenLlfled Lhemselves as volunLeers buL each
provlded whaL should be very speclallzed counsellng Lo women faclng unlnLended pregnancy. 1he
lnformaLlon provlded was conslsLenLly lnaccuraLe and blased. Cne lnvesLlgaLor who vlslLed mulLlple
cllnlcs descrlbed Lhese volunLeer counselors as conslsLenLly unprepared Lo handle Lhe full range of
slLuaLlons LhaL may brlng a woman Lhere."
lor example, one lnvesLlgaLor shared wlLh a CC's
volunLeer counselor LhaL she had been sexually assaulLed
and was afrald she may be pregnanL. 1he CC counselor
spenL Lhe flrsL hour of Lhe appolnLmenL uslng shamlng and
[udgmenLal rheLorlc, lncludlng comparlng aborLlon Lo a
vlolenL crlmlnal acL. lL was only afLer one full hour LhaL Lhe
counselor suggesLed reporLlng Lhe assaulL Lo Lhe pollce. AL
no Llme durlng Lhe vlslL dld Lhe counselor suggesL or offer
any LesLlng for sexually LransmlLLed dlsease, nor dld she
ever suggesL a vlslL Lo a hosplLal or emergency room. lL ls
clear LhaL Lhe counselor was wllllng Lo puL an ldeologlcal
agenda ahead of Lhe woman's healLh and safeLy.
Whlle Lhe CCs vlslLed adverLlse medlcal servlces and appear physlcally slmllar Lo medlcal faclllLles, our
lnvesLlgaLors' vlslLs showed a sLark conLrasL Lo Lhe counsellng anyone expecLs of a leglLlmaLe medlcal
provlder. CC vlslLs were characLerlzed by mlslnformaLlon and lack of ob[ecLlvlLy on Lhe parL of Lhose
provldlng counsellng.
K+*!1@!G*-$,$1%!&1!2.%$=5-.&*!.%(!39.0*!!
ln Lhe ma[orlLy of Lhelr adverLlslng, CCs vlslLed by our lnvesLlgaLors do noL acknowledge Lhey are falLh-
based organlzaLlons, yeL 60 percenL ldenLlfled Lhemselves as rellglous organlzaLlons durlng Lhe vlslLs. We
Lake no lssue wlLh any organlzaLlon's afflllaLlon wlLh a rellglous denomlnaLlon, ln facL, a woman's
personal splrlLual bellefs may serve as lndlspensable guldance when she ls maklng prlvaLe declslons. !
I&*"4*&'-$*1,.'"(*)*#'%'&*9'&2*
)"*'"#$%&'()&4.*924*%&)&$1*
%2$*2)1*=$$"*%$K,)33/*
)%%),3&$1*1'1*&2$*64,"%$34.*
%,(($%&*4.*4<<$.*)"/*&$%&'"(*
<4.*%$K,)33/*&.)"%-'&&$1*
1'%$)%$5*"4.*1'1*%2$*$#$.*
%,(($%&*)*#'%'&*&4*)*24%?'&)3*4.*
$-$.($"6/*.44-:**


CPCs Exposed



NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin Foundation
16
Powever, rellglous rheLorlc aL CCs was used as a Lool of
manlpulaLlon and shamlng when lnvesLlgaLors lndlcaLed Lhey
were conslderlng aborLlon. 8ellglon was lnvoked Lo dlssuade
our lnvesLlgaLors from chooslng emergency conLracepLlon,
conLracepLlon, and aborLlon. 8ellglous dlllgence ln Lhe CCs was
clLed as a reason Lhe cenLers would noL provlde referrals for
aborLlon servlces ln 72 percenL of our vlslLs. ln 40 percenL of
Lhese CCs, lnvesLlgaLors were offered prayers raLher Lhan
referrals Lo help Lhem make Lhe besL declslons for Lhemselves
and Lhelr famllles.!
ln one lnsLance, an lnvesLlgaLor ldenLlfled herself as !ewlsh Lo
Lhe CC counselor. 1he counselor Lhen asked lf she would
conslder becomlng a good ChrlsLlan and sLaLed, Cod ls waLchlng Lhls declslon and [udglng us.
LveryLhlng happens for a reason." AL anoLher CC, Lhe counselor lnvlLed our lnvesLlgaLor Lo aLLend her
church and Lold her LhaL whlle rape ls noL Cod's wlll, lL would be Cod's wlll lf she ls pregnanL, reassurlng
her, Cod can make even Lhls beauLlful."
3-**H!2.&*#$.-+!>0=-7$%,!"#1@*++$1%.-$+0!
A pamphleL LlLled lotleot klqbts. lot tbe womoo wbo ls 5eekloq o leqol Abottloo (llgure 7) was
dlsLrlbuLed Lo one of our lnvesLlgaLors aL a Madlson CC. lL ls formaLLed Lo look llke an offlclal medlcal
pamphleL, compleLe wlLh Lhe Seal of Lhe unlLed SLaLes on Lhe fronL.!






!"*.$%?4"%$*&4*)*/4,"(*
94-)"*924*'"1'6)&$1*%2$*
2)1*=$$"*%$K,)33/*)%%),3&$1*
)"1*9)%*64"6$."$1*)=4,&*
?.$(")"6/5*)*EFE*#43,"&$$.*
.$)%%,.$1*2$.5*7M41*6)"*
-)H$*$#$"*&2'%*=$),&'<,3:@*
I|gure 7: amph|et d|str|buted at a Mad|son CC t|t|ed 0#+%"&+(1%'2+3(*.,(4.5"&(6""7%&'()-.,+%.&3(made to |ook ||ke an
off|c|a| med|ca| brochure prov|ded by the government through the |nc|us|on of the Sea| of the Un|ted States.!



CPCs Exposed



NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin Foundation

17
1he pamphleL's deslgn esLabllshes a false sense of leglLlmacy and ob[ecLlvlLy. Compoundlng lLs
appearance of credlblllLy, Lhe conLenL layouL conLalns a sLaLemenL of rlghLs." Powever, Lhe LexL ls
lnflammaLory and lnLlmldaLlng, for example, sLaLlng LhaL, ?ou have Lhe rlghL Lo know lf Lhls docLor has
an lnsurance pollcy LhaL wlll proLecL you lo cose yoo ote lojoteJ ot kllleJ Jotloq tbls ptoceJote."
(Lmphasls added.) 1he pamphleL ls wrlLLen a way Lo lmply LhaL a woman's healLh or even llfe ls
LhreaLened by aborLlon.
L01&$1%.-!2.%$=5-.&$1%
Cur lnvesLlgaLors found LhaL CC counselors Lake an even more lnflammaLory rouLe when provldlng
Lhelr so-called counsellng. 1he lnformaLlon provlded Lo our lnvesLlgaLors by Lhe CC counselors,
however, was noL only lnconslsLenL wlLh medlcal and sclenLlflc evldence buL also relled on lnLlmldaLlng
anecdoLes. lnsLead of Lalklng abouL rlsks ln facLual Lerms, counselors made sLaLemenLs such as, l don'L
wanL Lo scare you, buL some women have reporLed seelng Lhelr LermlnaLed pregnancy afLer a chemlcal
aborLlon. 1hey were noL ready for LhaL, and l [usL meL you buL l wouldn'L wlsh LhaL on you." AL anoLher
CC, a counselor showed an lnvesLlgaLor several medlcal lnsLrumenLs LhaL she referred Lo as aborLlon
Lools" whlle dlscusslng Lhe posslblllLy of bleedlng Lo deaLh afLer an aborLlon. 1hese LacLlcs, comblned
wlLh mlslnformaLlon, do noL accuraLely porLray Lhe aborLlon as Lhe safe and legal procedure LhaL lL ls.
?1%/-5+$1%M!3500.#7!1@!>%)*+&$,.&$)*!C$%($%,+!N!F5#!G*/100*%(.&$1%+:::::::::::::::)
Cur lnvesLlgaLors, all Lralned unpald volunLeers, soughL counsellng aL 10 crlsls pregnancy cenLers locaLed
ln Lhe Madlson, Mllwaukee, and !anesvllle areas. AddlLlonally, our lnvesLlgaLors made phone calls Lo 19
of Lhe sLaLe's esLlmaLed 79 CCs. lnvesLlgaLors vlslLed Lhe CCs ln palrs poslng as pregnanL or poLenLlally
pregnanL women wlLh a parLner or a frlend. 1he volunLeers were of varylng ages and backgrounds. Lach
was Lralned Lo remaln open-mlnded and Lo ask unblased quesLlons. AfLer each lnvesLlgaLlon, all
lndependenLly compleLed a debrleflng form descrlblng all aspecLs of Lhelr vlslL. Some volunLeers made
audlo recordlngs of Lhelr vlslLs. 1hose audlo recordlngs were used lnLernally Lo ensure accuracy durlng
Lhe debrleflng process. AddlLlonal research examlnlng Lhe webslLes of CCs vlslLed was conducLed as
well.
We Lake no lssue wlLh volunLeer-run, falLh based, or prlvaLely funded counsellng cenLers when Lhey are
forLhrlghL and honesL abouL Lhe naLure of Lhelr servlces and provlde approprlaLe supporL and
lnformaLlon Lo women faclng unlnLended pregnancles. Sadly, Lhe crlsls pregnancy cenLers documenLed
ln Lhls reporL provlde no such Lransparency. lL was only when lnvesLlgaLors came Lhrough Lhelr doors
LhaL Lhese CCs' blases were revealed.
CCs' adverLlslng clalmed Lo provlde all-opLlons counsellng. When conLacLed by phone dlrecLly or vla
naLlonal hoLllnes, Lhey conLlnued Lo make Lhese clalms, urglng our callers lnLo a CC for an appolnLmenL.
?eL when our lnvesLlgaLors arrlved aL a CC, lL became apparenL LhaL no such counsellng was avallable,
and lnsLead CCs employed blased counsellng, scare LacLlcs, and dlssemlnaLed medlcally lnaccuraLe
lnformaLlon Lo deLer Lhem from conslderlng Lhe full range of pregnancy opLlons.


CPCs Exposed



NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin Foundation
18
key flndlngs of our sLudy lnclude:
100 percenL of CCs ln our lnvesLlgaLlon advlsed LhaL aborLlon leads Lo lncreased rlsk of breasL
cancer.
100 percenL of CCs ln our lnvesLlgaLlon advlsed LhaL aborLlon leads Lo menLal healLh problems.
80 percenL of CCs ln our lnvesLlgaLlon advlsed LhaL Lhere ls a llnk beLween aborLlon and fuLure
lnferLlllLy.
90 percenL of CCs ln our lnvesLlgaLlon advlsed conLracepLlon leads Lo lncreased rlsk of breasL
cancer.
100 percenL of CCs ln our lnvesLlgaLlon where emergency conLracepLlon was dlscussed advlsed
LhaL emergency conLracepLlon ls dangerous Lo physlcal and/or menLal healLh.
lL ls lmperaLlve Lo Lhe healLh and safeLy of Wlsconsln women LhaL we hold crlsls pregnancy cenLers
accounLable. As dlscussed above ln Lhe LxecuLlve Summary, nA8AL ro-Cholce Wlsconsln recommends:
1. A robusL and broad publlc educaLlon campalgn Lo ensure women know abouL Lhe llmlLed
scope of CCs' servlces and Lhelr ldeologlcal anLl-cholce poslLlon.
2. LeglslaLlon (such as Chlcago's bubble zone law) Lo ensure LhaL women enLerlng leglLlmaLe
healLhcare faclllLles are noL harassed by CC sLaff, volunLeers, or sldewalk counselors"
when Lrylng Lo access leglLlmaLe women's healLh care faclllLles. 1hls ls parLlcularly lmporLanL
glven Lhe sLraLegy of locaLlng CC faclllLles ln geographlc proxlmlLy Lo aborLlon provlders.
3. 8egulaLlon of adverLlslng Lo ensure LhaL women are noL mlsled abouL Lhe servlces CCs
provlde, Lhrough LruLh-ln-adverLlslng laws or requlred dlsclalmers Lo lnform women of Lhe
llmlLed scope of CC servlces.
4. 8egulaLlon Lo requlre LhaL CCs keep cllenL or paLlenL confldenLlallLy as ls requlred by
medlcal and counsellng cllnlcs and requlre LhaL CCs make cllenL or paLlenL records avallable
Lo Lhe paLlenL, should she deslre Lo seek care elsewhere.
lf sLaLe governmenL Lakes no acLlon Lo address Lhese concerns, local governmenL should Lake acLlon. 8y
Laklng Lhese sLeps, Wlsconsln can ensure LhaL CCs offer women an alLernaLlve Lo care Lhrough aborLlon
provlders or comprehenslve cllnlcs LhaL ls forLhrlghL regardlng Lhelr pracLlces and ldeology and ensure
LhaL women recelve accuraLe and honesL lnformaLlon, and LhaL women undersLand Lhe scope of servlces
Lhey wlll be recelvlng befote Lhey walk ln Lhe door. 1hls ls Lhe very leasL LhaL Wlsconsln women deserve.