Politics & Government
King County Requires 'Fake' Pregnancy Centers To Post Signs About Medical Care
The pregnancy centers, run pro-life groups, will be required to advertise they do no provide medical care.
SEATTLE, WA - The Seattle-King County Board of Health on Thursday passed a new rule requiring so-called crisis pregnancy centers (CPC) to advertise that they do not provide medical services. The clinics, run by groups opposed to abortion, look similar to clinics like Planned Parenthood, but do not offer medical care such as abortions or birth control.
The new rule requires that the each CPC post a sign - in 10 languages - that says, "This is not a health clinic." The punishment for disobeying the rule is a $100 fine. The sole "no" vote was King County Councilwoman Kathy Lambert, who represents District 3, which includes Sammamish, North Bend, and Duvall.
Lambert said that requiring the signs might force women into getting abortions.
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The nuns, CPC supporters rushed to shake KCCM Lambert's hand and take pictures with her.
— Ana Sofia Knauf (@asknauf) July 20, 2017
Lambert says requiring signs will "force" women to consider abortion.
— Erica C. Barnett (@ericacbarnett) July 20, 2017
A long line of representatives from and supporters of the pregnancy clinics spoke out against the proposal at the board's meeting on Thursday afternoon. Opponents said that the rule violates First Amendment rights, and that perhaps requiring the signs would lead to the clinics closing - or force them to start providing abortions.
The Christian-affiliated nonprofit Care Net operates more than 30 such clinics across Washington, including in Kenmore and Federal Way. There's also the Catholic-affiliated Pregnancy & Parenting Support center in South Seattle, and Pregnancy Aid in Auburn.
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The King County rule comes after NARAL Pro-Choice Washington sent secret shoppers to area clinics to survey their services. The group found that the centers would ask women questions about moral and spiritual beliefs, and only recommended that pregnancies be carried to term.
"These facilities lure pregnant women by promising medical care and counseling to discuss 'pregnancy options.' Once a woman is inside, they provide misinformation about the risks of abortion — often claiming, falsely — that abortions lead to cancer and suicide — and pressure her to carry her pregnancy to term," NARAL said in a press release.
Image via King County
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