Pregnancy helpline misleading women on abortion: claim
A QUEENSLAND faith-based pregnancy counselling service is one of several referred to the Queensland health ombudsman for “misleading” practices.
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TOOWOOMBA faith-based pregnancy counselling service Eva’s Place has been referred to the Queensland Health Ombudsman over “misleading” practices.
Health Minister Steven Miles said yesterday he had referred several crisis pregnancy services to the ombudsman after hearing recordings of phone counselling sessions.
“I think the health ombudsman needs to investigate these services as they pretend to be health services, they pretend to be therapeutic counselling services, they’re not,” he said.
“They’re misleading women, both about the health facts on abortion and what their options are.”
The Chronicle reports a spokeswoman for Mr Miles has confirmed Eva’s Place was one of the services referred to the ombudsman.
Eva’s Place is a ministry of Toowoomba City Women, part of Toowoomba City Church, which is a member of anti-abortion group Emily’s Voice. City Women also run City Free From Porn.
“In some of the recordings I’ve heard, they tell women they risk getting breast cancer from an abortion, which has been proven to be incorrect,” he said.
“They tell them that many women never recover from having an abortion and they generally encourage them not to exercise that option.
“Any service that holds itself out to be a health service should provide women with honest facts.”
Under Federal Government legislation organisations such as Eva’s Place are not subject to trade practice regulations around misinformation and false advertising as they are run on a not-for-profit model.
Eva’s Place states its mission as “giving you and your partner the information you need to make your choice, whether it is about abortion or the range of parenting options”.
“We have received no correspondence or contact from the Minister’s office and have not been placed on notice for any alleged misleading practices. We have no further comment,” an Eva’s Place spokeswoman said.
The service has been operating in Toowoomba for five years and recently opened an office in Dalby.
The referral of these pregnancy crisis centres to the ombudsman comes just days before the Queensland Parliament votes on whether to decriminalise abortion.
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