Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes is cautioning consumers to be aware of so-called “crisis pregnancy centers” which, she says, use misleading tactics to discourage abortion.
There are more crisis pregnancy centers than there are licensed abortion clinics in Arizona. In a consumer alert issued Wednesday, Mayes said these anti-abortion nonprofits may look like women’s health centers, but they usually don’t advertise that they don’t provide abortions and they are rarely licensed medical facilities.
The consumer alert says crisis pregnancy centers may offer services like free ultrasounds without disclosing that the procedures are non-diagnostic.
"CPCs are not always forthcoming about their philosophy and services, and a patient may not realize the CPC will not provide abortion care until it’s too late under state law. That delay can be devastating because many patients cannot afford to travel out of state," a press release from Mayes's office said.
The future of abortion access in Arizona remains at the center of legaland politicalfights, but abortion is currently legal up to 15 weeks of gestation in the state.
In the consumer alert, Mayes urges Arizonans seeking reproductive health care to first check a facility’s license status. She said Arizonans who feel they’ve been the victim of fraudulent or deceptive practices should file a consumer complaint with the state.
