Not all abortion facilities
are alike. It is important to find the right provider for
you. Since some people find it hard to talk openly about abortion,
women rarely know what to expect or what to look for. The
quality of care varies greatly among abortion facilities.
Some operate at the minimal level of requirements while others
go far beyond that to provide quality, comprehensive care.
Unfortunately, there are not many doctors willing to provide
abortion services so there may not be a provider in your area.
When making an appointment it is important to choose a facility
whose doctors and staff members care about your needs. Before
giving personal information, verify the facility’s location
and that they DO perform abortions. Below are some suggested
guidelines to help you:
1. BEWARE OF CRISIS PREGNANCY CENTERS’ ATTEMPT
TO MISLEAD WOMEN SEEKING AN ABORTION
Before giving your private health or contact information,
make sure you are speaking with an actual abortion provider
by asking “Do you perform abortions in your office?”
If the answer is unclear, confusing, or the question is dodged,
you may be speaking with a crisis pregnancy center instead
of an actual abortion provider. These centers are run by anti-abortion
activists and are designed to misinform, intimidate, and delay
women seeking abortion services. They often locate their offices
very close to actual abortion providers and choose names like
“Women’s Clinic,” “Pregnancy Help,”
or “Women’s Center” to confuse women about
the services they provide. Crisis pregnancy centers lure women
seeking abortion with offers of free services such as pregnancy
testing and ultrasound. Once in their office, the patient
may be shown graphic anti-abortion videos instead of being
provided medically accurate information about abortion. They
attempt to make women feel guilty and will not provide referrals
for abortion or birth control. Victims of crisis pregnancy
centers often experience blatant violations of their confidentiality
when they are phoned at home and urged not to have an abortion.
If you have been a victim of a crisis pregnancy center you
can take action anonymously by e-mailing the National
Abortion Federation at webmaster@prochoice.org
or calling 1-800-772-9100.
2. DON’T TRUST THE PHONE BOOK!
Advertisements can be misleading. Some providers insinuate
that they are in a specific city, even listing a local phone
number in their advertisement. When you call they may say
“we’re near there” or “we’re
not open there yet.” Be careful - you may be in for
a longer trip than you first thought. If a provider attempts
to mislead you in their yellow page advertisements,
IT IS A RED FLAG that they may not give you all the
information you deserve. Ask questions and call the Better
Business Bureau to complain if you feel you’re being
lied to.
3. GET A REFERRAL FROM SOMEONE YOU TRUST
Talk to a friend or family member you trust about your decision.
Women often refrain from talking about having an abortion,
but according to the National Abortion Federation, almost
half of all women of reproductive age in the United States
will have an abortion before they reach the age of 45. If
you would rather get an anonymous referral contact a physician,
counselor, or community organization that you trust. The National
Abortion Federation and the Abortion Care Network are also
useful resources. Clinics that are members of these organizations
must adhere to strict guidelines regarding abortion services.
4. CALL THE FACILITY
ON THE PHONE
Do they actually perform abortions in their office? Where
are they located? Are they friendly? Do they sound like people
you would be comfortable seeing? Do they take time to answer
all of your questions in a direct, compassionate way? Ask
them if you can come in and meet them prior to setting up
an appointment.
5. ASK THE STAFF
QUESTIONS
Ask about the facility’s services and staff. What is
the procedure like? What are the risks? In what ways will
they provide for your comfort and safety? Will they provide
a trained worker to address your questions in person? Do they
require that their patients be sedated? Will they provide
you with pricing information over the phone? Are they available
24 hours a day for consultation in case of complications?
Are they licensed and inspected by their state’s health
licensing agency? Do they have Board Certified/Board Eligible
licensed gynecologists? What about licensed nurses? Will you
meet the doctor prior to your procedure? How long has the
facility been in operation?
6. VISIT PRIOR TO YOUR APPOINTMENT
How do you feel when you walk in the door? How are you greeted?
What type of atmosphere are you seeing? Is the staff warm
and compassionate; is the clinic clean and comfortable? Ask
them for pamphlets. They should be able to provide you with
information about the procedure as well as birth control and
unplanned pregnancy options. You can never know how a situation
will turn out until you’ve been through it. We know
it is difficult to trust a medical provider you have never
seen before. These guidelines should help you. Also remember
to ask for what you need once you’ve chosen a provider,
and give the staff feedback about how they could better serve
women in the future.
REMEMBER - YOU DESERVE GOOD CARE!
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