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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/03/anti-abortion-websites-masquerade-as-pregnancy-counsellors

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Anti-abortion websites masquerade as pregnancy counsellors Anti-abortion websites masquerade as pregnancy counsellors
(about 4 hours later)
Anti-abortion websites posing as objective pregnancy counselling websites are telling women mortality rates for women 10 years after having an abortion are much higher than for women who give birth to children and linking it with rises in suicide and drug taking. The claims have no credible scientific backing.Anti-abortion websites posing as objective pregnancy counselling websites are telling women mortality rates for women 10 years after having an abortion are much higher than for women who give birth to children and linking it with rises in suicide and drug taking. The claims have no credible scientific backing.
The websites, easily found through Google, say they are run by independent or non-biased organisations but have an anti-abortion agenda.The websites, easily found through Google, say they are run by independent or non-biased organisations but have an anti-abortion agenda.
One site, Real Choices, hosts a pamphlet debunking abortion “myths”. It claims 20% of women who have an abortion “suffer serious prolonged psychological trauma”.One site, Real Choices, hosts a pamphlet debunking abortion “myths”. It claims 20% of women who have an abortion “suffer serious prolonged psychological trauma”.
The pamphlet claims there is a “significant risk of future premature births” for women who have an abortion and abortion is correlated substantially to increased use of alcohol and drugs.The pamphlet claims there is a “significant risk of future premature births” for women who have an abortion and abortion is correlated substantially to increased use of alcohol and drugs.
The medical director of Family Planning NSW, Dr Deborah Bateson, would not single out websites but said there were pregnancy counselling sites that were actually “anti-abortion” in Australia and clearly fed into fears for women who have unintended pregnancies.The medical director of Family Planning NSW, Dr Deborah Bateson, would not single out websites but said there were pregnancy counselling sites that were actually “anti-abortion” in Australia and clearly fed into fears for women who have unintended pregnancies.
“They are extensively misleading for women, they’re dressed up as credible websites, but the information is incorrect. They’re causing extreme anxiety for women,” she said. Bateson said the sites were “misleading” women and were “dressed up as credible site” yet contained some information that was incorrect and biased. “They’re causing extreme anxiety for women,” she said.
“The most important information is women knowing where they can go [to get unbiased information].”“The most important information is women knowing where they can go [to get unbiased information].”
Family Planning NSW has released a booklet, “Pregnant? Working Through Your Options”, to combat the misinformation.Family Planning NSW has released a booklet, “Pregnant? Working Through Your Options”, to combat the misinformation.
Another site, Pregnancy Help Australia Ltd, suggests a link for abortion information which says women who have abortion often have psychological trauma but are called “whiners” and “dysfunctional” by “pro-abortion researchers”.Another site, Pregnancy Help Australia Ltd, suggests a link for abortion information which says women who have abortion often have psychological trauma but are called “whiners” and “dysfunctional” by “pro-abortion researchers”.
“This ‘blame the victim’ strategy which is being employed by some pro-abortion researchers is not new. It is identical to the type of reasoning used during world war one when veterans suffering from ‘shellshock’ were diagnosed by military psychiatrists as ‘malingerers’ or even cowards,” the site said.“This ‘blame the victim’ strategy which is being employed by some pro-abortion researchers is not new. It is identical to the type of reasoning used during world war one when veterans suffering from ‘shellshock’ were diagnosed by military psychiatrists as ‘malingerers’ or even cowards,” the site said.
“… In the same way, when pro-abortion researchers are confronted with women who suffer from post-abortion trauma, there is a tendency to blame the woman for being whiners’ or ‘dysfunctional’, since it is common knowledge in pro-abortion circles that abortion normally ‘empowers’ women.”“… In the same way, when pro-abortion researchers are confronted with women who suffer from post-abortion trauma, there is a tendency to blame the woman for being whiners’ or ‘dysfunctional’, since it is common knowledge in pro-abortion circles that abortion normally ‘empowers’ women.”
All of the sites tout themselves as “independent organisations” and most also offer counselling over the phone.All of the sites tout themselves as “independent organisations” and most also offer counselling over the phone.
Open Doors says it is a “specialist counselling service” for women who have had abortions since it can be a “very lonely experience”.Open Doors says it is a “specialist counselling service” for women who have had abortions since it can be a “very lonely experience”.
“One aspect of the post-abortion experience that is well worth mentioning is the desire to replace the pregnancy that has been terminated with another, often within the period of three to six months after the abortion. This desire is thought to be motivated by the conscious or unconscious need to undo the abortion and turn back the clock. Many women do proceed with the second pregnancy,” the site says. “One aspect of the post-abortion experience that is well worth mentioning is the desire to replace the pregnancy that has been terminated with another, often within the period of three to six months after the abortion,” the site says. “This desire is thought to be motivated by the conscious or unconscious need to undo the abortion and turn back the clock. Many women do proceed with the second pregnancy.”
The site also carries a link to a “photographic story” of the development of a foetus from conception until birth with an article written from the point of view of a young person finding out about before they were born.The site also carries a link to a “photographic story” of the development of a foetus from conception until birth with an article written from the point of view of a young person finding out about before they were born.
A spokeswoman for Women’s Centre for Health Matters said a woman facing an unwanted pregnancy should be supported with facts about her options.A spokeswoman for Women’s Centre for Health Matters said a woman facing an unwanted pregnancy should be supported with facts about her options.
“Unfortunately this is where [these websites] really let these women down. Using discredited research to dramatically inflate the physical and psychological risks of abortion is not ‘compassionate’ or ‘unbiased’ it’s deceptive and harmful,” the spokeswoman said. “Unfortunately this is where [these websites] really let these women down,” she said.
“These organisations need to be upfront about their ideological alliances, so that women who turn to them know that they will not be provided with accurate information about all of their pregnancy options.” “...These organisations need to be upfront about their ideological alliances, so that women who turn to them know that they will not be provided with accurate information about all of their pregnancy options.”
The spokeswoman said it was concerned the sites were not transparent about their sources of funding. The spokeswoman said the sites were inflating the physical and psychological risks of abortion and the Women’s Centre for Health Matters was concerned the sites were not transparent about their sources of funding.