NEW YORK — New York Attorney General Letitia James announced Monday that the state is suing an anti-abortion group and 11 New York Crisis Pregnancy Centers, including one in Western New York, for promoting unproven abortion reversal treatments.
The lawsuit claims Heartbeat International and the Crisis Pregnancy Centers allegedly used false and misleading claims to try to convince pregnant women that they can receive potentially unsafe 'abortion pill reversal' treatment.
“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 pill reversal' 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.”
The Office of Attorney General (OAG) says the crisis pregnancy centers throughout the state advertise the 'abortion pill reversal' on their websites and social media sites. James says the sites allegedly make false and misleading claim to convince pregnant people to get treatment.
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.
Heartbeat International announced last week that they are suing NYS Attorney General James citing: "The lawsuit challenges the discriminatory practices of the Attorney General's office, which have unfairly singled out pregnancy help organizations solely because they offer alternatives to abortion. These organizations, represented pro bono by the Thomas More Society, play a vital role in providing support and information to women facing unplanned pregnancies, ensuring they have access to all available options and empowering them to make informed choices about their futures. Our lawsuit challenges the Attorney General's office's pattern of discrimination against pregnancy help organizations and seeks to uphold the rights of women to receive comprehensive information and support during unplanned pregnancies. We stand firm in our commitment to providing compassionate care and empowering women to make choices that align with their values and beliefs."
RELATED VIDEO: