Resolution passes to oppose false reproductive advice

In a unanimous vote Monday night, Chapel Hill became the first town in the Southeast to approve a resolution opposing deceptive practices in women’s reproductive health care.

The resolution was written by NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina, an abortion rights activist group.

NARAL presented the resolution to the Chapel Hill Town Council in response to concerns about crisis pregnancy centers — or family planning organizations that provide alternatives to abortion.

The resolution calls for the N.C. General Assembly to legally rein in centers’ practices considered misleading, such as telling pregnant clients that abortion poses risks to their health.

According to a 2011 NARAL study, there are 122 crisis pregnancy centers in North Carolina.

In an interview before the vote, Councilman Jim Ward said the resolution is meant only to show the town’s support for accuracy in women’s health care.

Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt stressed the fact that the resolution will not affect the ability of nearby centers to operate.

“The town of Chapel Hill is not in a position tell anyone in this arena what they can or can’t do,” he said.

Suzanne Buckley, executive director for NARAL’s N.C. chapter, said though her group pushes for abortion rights, this is just an issue of medical accuracy.

“This is not about abortion, pro-choice or pro-life,” she said.

“This is really about the women of North Carolina. We think everyone can agree that no one should be misled about their health care options.”

A NARAL poll of 66 crisis pregnancy centers showed that while 92 percent of the centers did not have medically licensed staff, only 24 percent disclosed that fact to study volunteers.

Additionally, 26 percent falsely claimed that abortion leads to breast cancer and 48 percent told women that none of the common birth control methods are effective at preventing pregnancy.

But Mimi Every, executive director of Pregnancy Support Services, a crisis pregnancy center in Chapel Hill and Durham, said her organization has never provided women with inaccurate information since it was founded nearly 30 years ago.

“One of the things that’s on the resolution is giving incorrect medical information,” Every said.

“Well I agree; that’s a horrible thing to do.”

Every, who described Pregnancy Support Services as a non-political Christian ministry, said all of its clients get accurate information and are able to make private decisions about their pregnancy.

She added that while the organization provides information on what it considers potential risks of abortion, it tells clients that most of these risks — particularly physical ones — are rare.

“We don’t ever manipulate,” Every said. “We never coerce. We’re not here to make decisions for people.”

The organization claims abortion complications can include uterine scarring, cervical damage, stress and anxiety —all of which NARAL disputes.

Every said Pregnancy Support Services meets with an average of 80 to 95 women clients every month between its two locations. Its Chapel Hill branch is the only crisis pregnancy center in the town.

Buckley said there is at least one such center within 25 miles of every college campus in North Carolina and that many advertise to college-age women.

Ward said he hoped the resolution would further the conversation about women’s health care in North Carolina as well as in Chapel Hill.

“We just need to give women and their families the best information in a nurturing atmosphere as we can,” he said. “I just don’t understand why we wouldn’t want that.”

Contact the desk editor at city@dailytarheel.com.