Planned Parenthood takes aim at some pregnancy-counselling centres
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* Steven Wharry

The Planned Parenthood Federation of Canada says some pregnancy-counselling centres that advertise their services in Canada are actually promoting an agenda against abortion. “We're worried that doctors are innocently referring people to these clinics, thinking that they provide the full range of information when they do not,” says Bonnie Johnson, Planned Parenthood's executive director.

The issue arose last year when a media report claimed a Calgary counselling centre affiliated with the US-based pro-life organization Care Net deliberately misled and intimidated women. “In reality those clinics are antichoice and their main purpose is to coerce a woman into carrying her pregnancy to full term, regardless of what the woman may want during the counselling sessions,” says Johnson, who contends that the centres subject women to “moral and religious judgement, false medical information and strong-arm tactics.”

A Care Net spokesperson denied the charges. “Our desire is to serve people in a way that honours the Lord,” said Vice-President Lynn Bisbee. The Winter 2000 newsletter from the Richmond, BC, right-to-life group states that Care Net is currently rewriting its guidelines and will require all member centres to submit *Yellow Pages* listings for approval.

Last November the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) issued a statement condemning counselling centres that provide “misinformation about contraception and sexual and reproductive health issues to Canadian women.” It added: “The SOGC believes that pregnant Canadian women should be provided with the information on all health care options available in Canada with integrity and compassion, thereby allowing them to make informed health care decisions.”

Johnson said there is nothing her group can do to stop the counselling centres from providing whatever information they see fit. “We're trying to look at this from a purely medical and health-promotion point of view,” Johnson said. “We are trying to set aside ethical or religious beliefs and ensure that women receive accurate and complete information about their pregnancy options.”