Don’t Be Fooled
Fake Clinics Are A Threat To Public Health
Fake clinics, sometimes known as “crisis pregnancy centers,” or “pregnancy resource centers,” are non-profit organizations that advertise themselves as reproductive health clinics, but whose primary purpose is to discourage people from accessing certain types of reproductive healthcare, including abortion and sometimes contraception (birth control). Fake clinics are not typically staffed by licensed medical providers. These facilities do not provide accurate medical information, but instead use religious and moral arguments to influence client decision-making.
There are at least 25 fake clinics in West Virginia alone. The majority are supported by taxpayer money. Scroll down to see the names and addresses of the fake clinics WV FREE has identified in our state, as well as some in neighboring states that target West Virginians. Know of a clinic that’s not on our list? Use this form to tell us about it.
You can learn more about fake clinics and the risks they pose to pregnant people by clicking the links below.
Why Are Fake Clinics Dangerous?
Fake clinics are not regulated as health facilities, which means they have no legal obligation to provide accurate medical information or to maintain client confidentiality under HIPPA. Many fake clinics offer free ultrasound services; however these ultrasounds are typically non-diagnostic, and performed by untrained, unlicensed staff or volunteers, meaning they are often unable to identify life-threatening complications such as ectopic pregnancy. (Click here to read about a lawsuit related to this issue.)
There are many documented cases of clinics delaying exam results, or exaggerating how far along a person is in their pregnancy, with the intention of causing clients to miss, or believe they have missed, the window to obtain abortion care in states where it is legal. However, this can cause emotional distress and delayed entry into prenatal care for people who intend to continue their pregnancies, as well.
Who Do Fake Clinics Target?
Fake clinics exploit existing gaps in care for underserved populations, including:
- Rural communities, especially those without obstetric care providers
- People of color
- Young people / students
- Low-income people / people who have difficulty paying for medical services
However, anyone who is pregnant or seeking reproductive healthcare could be targeted by a fake clinic if they are not aware of their rights and resources.
What Is "Abortion Pill Reversal"?
Some fake clinics may advertise a procedure called “Abortion Pill Reversal,” or APR, which is an experimental treatment intended to reverse the effects of the abortion medication, mifepristone. APR has not been evaluated by the FDA and, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), is not supported by credible scientific evidence. Advocates for “abortion reversal” also put people at risk by discouraging individuals who have already taken mifepristone from completing the recommended abortion medication protocol, which research suggests may put them at increased risk of side effects including severe hemorrhage.
How Is Taxpayer Money Used To Support Fake Clinics?
In 2023, the West Virginia legislature passed HB 2002, which allocated $1 million of taxpayer funds to an anti-abortion coalition, to distribute at their discretion to their affiliates in West Virginia and neighboring states. Last year, then-governor of West Virginia Jim Justice increased the grant amount to $3 million. Despite its name, the vast majority of funds in the West Virginia Mothers & Babies Support Program go to fake clinics – organizations that provide no actual medical services for mothers or babies.
How Can I Tell If A Clinic Is Fake?
Fake clinics blend into communities by posing as welcoming resource centers for people facing an unplanned pregnancy – so how can you tell the real clinics from the fakes? A clinic might be fake if they or their website:
- Does not provide information about birth control
- Claims that abortion is unsafe
- Offers or provides information about “abortion pill reversal”
- Uses religious language to describe a pregnancy
- Requires you to watch a video or speak to a counselor to get your pregnancy test results
If you live in West Virginia, you can always check if a clinic appears on our list of fakes, below, before you make an appointment. And remember, if you are ever at an appointment and begin to feel that something isn’t right, it is always your right to leave.
What to do instead? Click here to see our provider map and find a legitimate reproductive health clinic near you. These clinics offer pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, and medically accurate information. They can also connect you with prenatal care and other resources if you choose to continue your pregnancy.
How I Can Learn More About Fake Clinics?
If you’d like to learn more about fake clinics, we invite you to check out the following resources:
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, “Crisis Pregnancy Centers – Issue Brief”
National Library of Medicine: “The Problems with Crisis Pregnancy Centers”