Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
Pregnancy Centers In LA Could Face 10k Fine For Misleading Patients
A patient room in a crisis pregnancy center in Pasadena. The law will only apply to pregnancy centers in the city of Los Angeles.
(
Susanica Tam
/
KPCC/LAist
)
The Los Angeles City Council approved an ordinance Tuesday prohibiting pregnancy centers from misleading people about the reproductive health services they provide, including abortion and contraception.
About this ordinance
The ordinance was proposed by City Attorney Mike Feuer and will be enforced by his office with fines of $10,000 per violation. It will also allow victims to sue for compensation if they believe they have been misled.
Although the measure covers all pregnancy centers, Feuer specifically cited anti-abortion crisis pregnancy centers in his comments to council and said he hopes the measure never has to be used.
Support for LAist comes from
"Because I hope that when the council passes and mayor signs this ordinance, that every pregnancy center is going to provide only accurate information, will never misrepresent the scope of services that they provide so that no woman is victimized and needs to vindicate her rights — whether through us or on her own," Feuer said.
Why advocates say it's needed
Feuer told the city council that some anti-abortion crisis pregnancy centers target low-income people and use deceptive tactics such as false advertising to make pregnant people believe they provide abortion services when they do not, Once inside, pregnant people are instead dissuaded from getting an abortion.
The ordinance sites the delay caused by misleading medical information as detrimental to a woman’s health, stating “...she loses time crucial to accessing emergency contraception, obtaining an abortion, or beginning prenatal care. Under these circumstances a woman might also lose the option to choose a particular procedure, or to terminate the pregnancy at all.”
What's next
With abortion now illegal or severely restricted in a number of states, California officials anticipate thousands of women will travel to Los Angeles to obtain reproductive health services.
Support for LAist comes from
L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti’s office says he will sign the measure by Nov. 14. After a brief posting period, it will become law.
In 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court blocked enforcement of a 2015 California law, known as the Reproductive Fact Act, that required faith-based crisis pregnancy centers to notify patients that the state offers subsidized medical care, including abortions.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
After rising for years, the number of residential installations in the city of Los Angeles began to drop in 2023. The city isn’t subject to recent changes in state incentives, but other factors may be contributing to the decline. -
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs.
-
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
Best of LAist