Dear editor:
An online search for "pregnancy care in Wyoming" yields legitimate clinics, but several “pregnancy centers” also pop up — offering FREE ultrasounds, testing, diapers and more.
Lawmakers meet in Cheyenne on Oct 16-17 to discuss maternity care in the state and some might say that these “Crisis Pregnancy Centers” (CPCs) are vital to addressing maternity care gaps.
But there's a catch.
Two lessons I learned from my elders: be truthful — your word is your bond. And "if something seems too good to be true, it probably is."
These unregulated clinics are not required to tell the truth about their services or give medically sound information. Their promises of free stuff come with a big price tag in the form of dishonesty.
As a Wyoming mother of two, former breastfeeding counselor and fan of honest medical information, I can tell you that CPCs are NOT the answer.
Not Real Clinics
In the U.S., around 2,500 of these facilities advertise themselves as safe, qualified places where pregnant women can get free healthcare services.
But this is false. An article in the AMA Journal of Ethics says it clearly: unregulated CPCs aren't real medical clinics.
In Wyoming, we have several CPCs. They are not required to have licensed medical providers on the premises. What could go wrong?
Unregulated CPCs dishonestly claim to provide information necessary for "informed reproductive health choices" and many intentionally seek out people wanting abortion care only to deter them.
Although these centers claim they provide information about abortion, only in small print do they note they won't refer for abortion care.
This dishonesty keeps Wyoming women from learning about ALL their options, including lifesaving procedures.
The Dangers
Studies show that many CPCs give false information about abortion risks, making debunked claims linking abortion — a common and very safe healthcare intervention—to scientifically disproven risks.
They can misstate how far along someone is to make them think they have no choices, and can even spread lies about birth control and STIs.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists finds that CPCs use delay as a tactic, scheduling multiple appointments and withholding test results.
By the time women realize they won't get the medical care they sought, they may have lost critical weeks, sometimes pushing them past state time limits.
Unlike real medical clinics, unregulated CPCs don't have to follow HIPAA privacy laws, meet medical standards, or hire licensed healthcare providers. They face almost no consequences for giving false information.
What We Can Do
When Wyoming women and girls in tough situations are deliberately lied to about their healthcare options, we all lose.
Tell our Wyoming legislators to pass laws requiring CPCs to clearly state that they don't provide or refer for abortion services.
Call on our state medical board to investigate facilities making false medical claims.
Make sure our lawmakers know that NO taxpayer money should go to organizations that spread medical lies.
The next person who searches "pregnancy help in Wyoming" deserves accurate information, not an extremist agenda disguised as healthcare.
Our silence allows these centers to thrive — and our voices can shut them down.
Sincerely,
Janean Forsyth, Laramie
