TV ads for commercial abortion clinics given OK
Jul 9, 2011 13:21:37 GMT -5
Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jul 9, 2011 13:21:37 GMT -5
TV adverts for commercial abortion clinics given go ahead
Private clinics which carry out abortions will be allowed to advertise on television and radio for the first time, under new rules.
TV adverts for commercial abortion clinics given go ahead
The first advert for abortion services to be screened on British television for the Marie Stopes charity.
Laura Donnelly
By Laura Donnelly, and Jonathan Wynne-Jones
9:00PM BST 02 Jul 2011
The plans have sparked controversy, with pro-life campaigners accusing advertising authorities of "trivialising" human life by treating terminations as a consumer choice like cars or washing powder.
They emerged as a report accused clinics of using "hard sell" marketing to push pregnant women seeking counselling into having terminations, in order to make more money.
Under the draft recommendations, drawn up by the Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice, which regulates TV and radio commercials, dozens of independent hospitals carrying out abortions will be able to advertise their services to consumers.
Until now, restrictions have meant abortion clinics can only advertise their services if they are not run for profit. Because of the rules, just one advert, by charity Marie Stopes International has ever been aired, last year, to great controversy, and more than 4,500 complaints.
Last night Sally Taber from Independent Healthcare Advisory Services, which represents private healthcare organisations, said clinics offering terminations would welcome the change - though not all would choose to advertise, given the risk of negative publicity.
More than 35 private hospitals in England currently offer abortion services, though many are better known for their maternity and fertility services.
She said: "We would definitely welcome this, clearly hospitals want to raise awareness of services they provide, but some might choose not to advertise because of the sensitivity of the service - we have seen the problems in other countries when abortion clinics come under attack. Each provider will need to think this through very carefully."
Last night Joanne Hill, from the pro-life charity Life expressed "utter disbelief" at the recommendations, which she described as unacceptable.
She said: "To allow commercial abortion providers to advertise on TV, as though they were no different from car companies or detergent manufacturers, is shocking and exceeds the bounds of responsible advertising.
"By suggesting that abortion is yet another consumer choice human life is trivialised and the distress and heartache faced by a woman making this irrevocable decision, which ends the life of her child, is glossed over."
The proposals emerged as campaigners for changes to abortion law publish a report accusing clinics funded by the NHS of using "hard sell" tactics to pressure women into having abortions.
The report by lobby group Right To Know attacks major abortion providers for recruiting business development managers who are asked to promote the growth of the businesses, and generate increased income.
It quotes financial statements from abortion provider bpas which list increases in the number of terminations as significant goals achieved.
The group is campaigning for an amendment to the health and social care bill, now going through parliament, proposed by MPs Nadine Dorries and Frank Field so, that all women considering abortion are offered counselling by independent organisations - not by a clinic providing the termination.
Their report, published tomorrow, says that organisations like bpas, which combine counselling with a medical assessment, to find out which method of abortion is suitable, put pressure on women to go ahead with a termination.
Mrs Dorries said: "Ultimately the woman should have the right to make her own choice, but often they are not given all the information they should be given regarding the abortion process.
"The marketing techniques are so slick that many women are coming out of the process feeling as though they were rushed through it and given no choice."
It has emerged that the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapists, which represents over 32,000 individual and organisational members is supporting the Dorries/Field amendment.
The body is calling for all women considering terminations to be offered free, independent unbiased advice, to help them come to terms with the psychological consequences of their decisions.
The new code for TV and radio advertising, on which consultation began last week, has also angered pro-life groups because it says that if they run commercials promoting services offering counselling to pregnant women, they must make explicit the fact they would not refer for terminations.
Josephine Quintavelle, from the Pro-Life Alliance accused regulators of "weaselly game playing" in making the demand.
Ann Furedi, chief executive of bpas said: "Bpas is a charity that promotes choice; we have no interest - financial or otherwise - in encouraging women to have abortions.
"The implication that our doctors and nurses are unable to counsel women about all their pregnancy options is ill-informed and offensive."
www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8612743/TV-adverts-for-commercial-abortion-clinics-given-go-ahead.html
Private clinics which carry out abortions will be allowed to advertise on television and radio for the first time, under new rules.
TV adverts for commercial abortion clinics given go ahead
The first advert for abortion services to be screened on British television for the Marie Stopes charity.
Laura Donnelly
By Laura Donnelly, and Jonathan Wynne-Jones
9:00PM BST 02 Jul 2011
The plans have sparked controversy, with pro-life campaigners accusing advertising authorities of "trivialising" human life by treating terminations as a consumer choice like cars or washing powder.
They emerged as a report accused clinics of using "hard sell" marketing to push pregnant women seeking counselling into having terminations, in order to make more money.
Under the draft recommendations, drawn up by the Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice, which regulates TV and radio commercials, dozens of independent hospitals carrying out abortions will be able to advertise their services to consumers.
Until now, restrictions have meant abortion clinics can only advertise their services if they are not run for profit. Because of the rules, just one advert, by charity Marie Stopes International has ever been aired, last year, to great controversy, and more than 4,500 complaints.
Last night Sally Taber from Independent Healthcare Advisory Services, which represents private healthcare organisations, said clinics offering terminations would welcome the change - though not all would choose to advertise, given the risk of negative publicity.
More than 35 private hospitals in England currently offer abortion services, though many are better known for their maternity and fertility services.
She said: "We would definitely welcome this, clearly hospitals want to raise awareness of services they provide, but some might choose not to advertise because of the sensitivity of the service - we have seen the problems in other countries when abortion clinics come under attack. Each provider will need to think this through very carefully."
Last night Joanne Hill, from the pro-life charity Life expressed "utter disbelief" at the recommendations, which she described as unacceptable.
She said: "To allow commercial abortion providers to advertise on TV, as though they were no different from car companies or detergent manufacturers, is shocking and exceeds the bounds of responsible advertising.
"By suggesting that abortion is yet another consumer choice human life is trivialised and the distress and heartache faced by a woman making this irrevocable decision, which ends the life of her child, is glossed over."
The proposals emerged as campaigners for changes to abortion law publish a report accusing clinics funded by the NHS of using "hard sell" tactics to pressure women into having abortions.
The report by lobby group Right To Know attacks major abortion providers for recruiting business development managers who are asked to promote the growth of the businesses, and generate increased income.
It quotes financial statements from abortion provider bpas which list increases in the number of terminations as significant goals achieved.
The group is campaigning for an amendment to the health and social care bill, now going through parliament, proposed by MPs Nadine Dorries and Frank Field so, that all women considering abortion are offered counselling by independent organisations - not by a clinic providing the termination.
Their report, published tomorrow, says that organisations like bpas, which combine counselling with a medical assessment, to find out which method of abortion is suitable, put pressure on women to go ahead with a termination.
Mrs Dorries said: "Ultimately the woman should have the right to make her own choice, but often they are not given all the information they should be given regarding the abortion process.
"The marketing techniques are so slick that many women are coming out of the process feeling as though they were rushed through it and given no choice."
It has emerged that the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapists, which represents over 32,000 individual and organisational members is supporting the Dorries/Field amendment.
The body is calling for all women considering terminations to be offered free, independent unbiased advice, to help them come to terms with the psychological consequences of their decisions.
The new code for TV and radio advertising, on which consultation began last week, has also angered pro-life groups because it says that if they run commercials promoting services offering counselling to pregnant women, they must make explicit the fact they would not refer for terminations.
Josephine Quintavelle, from the Pro-Life Alliance accused regulators of "weaselly game playing" in making the demand.
Ann Furedi, chief executive of bpas said: "Bpas is a charity that promotes choice; we have no interest - financial or otherwise - in encouraging women to have abortions.
"The implication that our doctors and nurses are unable to counsel women about all their pregnancy options is ill-informed and offensive."
www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8612743/TV-adverts-for-commercial-abortion-clinics-given-go-ahead.html
