British Abortion Business Launches Ad Telling Women: Get Abortion Fast

National   |   Steven Ertelt   |   May 8, 2006   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

British Abortion Business Launches Ad Telling Women: Get Abortion Fast Email this article
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
May 8, 2006

London, England (LifeNews.com) — A British abortion business has launched a new advertising campaign telling women they shouldn’t wait to have an abortion. The ads say women who are considering having an abortion shouldn’t delay and pro-life observers suggest the ads are coercive and may pressure women to have abortions without thinking of the consequences.

The British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) launched the campaign today with posters and leaflets throughout London and are aimed at women who have unplanned pregnancies.

The ads talk about both abortion and keeping the baby but the abortion business says the ads are meant to let women know that "time is of the essence when deciding about" having an abortion.

"Abortion is safer and more straightforward when performed earlier in pregnancy," the ads say.

But pro-life advocates say that the ads could encourage women to have abortions they might otherwise not have and don’t tell women about potential medical and emotional risks from abortion.

As many as 40 percent of women in American studies say that a boyfriend, husband, or family member pressured them into having the abortion and ads telling women to get abortions faster could increase that figure.

BPAS is also relying on new technologies to reach women with their abortion ads, and is using web site advertising as well as text messages to reach women. Text message ads include a phone number for abortion advice and the location of the nearest abortion facility.

The abortion center is also distributing business cards women can keep in their purse with information about abortion businesses near them.

"We are trialling [sic] new means of discreet information-giving because no woman anticipates needing an abortion — but vital information and help is not always easily or promptly available to her," BPAS CEO Ann Furedi said in a statement provided to LifeNews.com.

BPAS has been doing abortions since 1968 and says it did abortions on more than 50,000 women last year. Almost 80 percent of the abortions is does are done under contract with the British taxpayer-funded health care system.