When an eastern Wisconsin couple entered a crisis pregnancy center, they sought information and support. Instead, they left the clinic confused, having been provided with an ultrasound image that was purported to show the early stages of pregnancy in a uterus—but actually showed a bladder.
Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs) are often religiously affiliated, non-medical, anti-abortion organizations that frequently use deceptive tactics—including providing false information and inaccurate ultrasounds performed by unqualified staff members—to discourage people from seeking abortion care.
There are more than 2,500 CPCs in the US, compared to about 750 clinics that provide abortion services. CPCs are sometimes located near abortion clinics to deliberately mislead.
In Wisconsin, there are between 50 and 70 CPCs compared to only five abortion clinics.. And some CPCs even receive indirect state funding through a so-called “Choose Life” license plate, which includes a $25 fee that benefits an anti-abortion group—bringing in more than $300,000 over the past eight years.
One Wisconsin OB-GYN is speaking out about the dangers of CPCs after helping the couple who received an image of a bladder, not a uterus, while seeking medical care.
✏️: Salina Heller
