* Scott Reeder for the Illinois Times…
Memorial Health will no longer provide financial or in-kind support to crisis pregnancy centers, which counsel against abortions, Illinois Times has learned.
The health system, which operates hospitals in Springfield, Lincoln, Taylorville, Decatur and Jacksonville, made this decision after the organization’s diversity, equity and inclusion team found that crisis pregnancy centers can “exacerbate health inequities and create barriers to care,” according to a memo obtained by IT.
“These are thought of as deceptive organizations and there’s a lot of ethical concerns with them,” said a person familiar with the internal debate who asked not to be identified.
System spokeswoman Angie Muhs said, “Memorial Health has determined to focus its limited resources on activities and partnerships closely aligned with our mission to improve health and contribute to our ongoing work in health equity.” […]
Ralph Rivera, legislative chair for Illinois Right to Life, said these centers do not engage in deception and are dedicated to providing pregnant women and girls with alternatives to abortion. He added that advice their opponents label as “deceptive” often just involves differences of opinion. […]
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists contends crisis pregnancy centers “represent themselves as legitimate reproductive health care clinics providing care for pregnant people but actually aim to dissuade people from accessing certain types of reproductive health care, including abortion care and even contraceptive options.”
On July 27, Gov. JB Pritzker signed a law banning crisis pregnancy centers from using “misinformation, deceptive practices, or misrepresentation” to interfere with access to abortion services or emergency contraception. Attorney General Kwame Raoul championed the legislation, which would have allowed his office to investigate complaints against crisis pregnancy centers and fine violators up to $50,000.
- Mr. Middleground - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 11:39 am:
Memorial Health System just laid off hundreds of employees. This had far more to do with money (or lack thereof) and far less to do with perceived equity.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 11:58 am:
===This had far more to do with money==
It’s sending a message to its mission in healthcare.
===System spokeswoman Angie Muhs said, “Memorial Health has determined to focus its limited resources on activities and partnerships closely aligned with our mission to improve health and contribute to our ongoing work in health equity.”===
It’s right there. No guessing.
- Give Us Barabbas - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 12:11 pm:
I’m not against them helping women carry a baby to term and support it or help arrange for an adoption. But if all they do is talk the woman out of an abortion,then leave her stranded with a baby and no resources, that’s terrible. And I’m afraid that’s what a lot of those places do because conservatives as a rule don’t support the ongoing social programs a single mom needs.
- Mr. Middleground - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 12:23 pm:
==It’s right there. No guessing.==
“on going work in health equity”
I’m glad you saw right through it too.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 12:32 pm:
===I’m glad you saw right through it too.===
lol, nothing to see through, although it seems you want this issue.
A phony center using words to seem thoughtful to healthcare, no need to invest in something counter to women’s health.
- Annonin' - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 12:46 pm:
Ralph, Ralph…Ralph.
No deceptions? These outfits are promotedeveryday by folks like Glen Beck who peddle end of the world, sky is falling 24-7. Good for Memorial
- Bob Gilligan - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 4:26 pm:
You can choose to believe anything you wish, but crisis pregnancy centers do not just talk the woman out of an abortion, then leave her stranded with a baby and no resources. They generally do not get involved in advocating for state funded programs, but rather they help expectant moms and moms with babies in a host of ways including - transportation to medical appointments, transportation to jobs, free diapers, job training, financial assistance, and the one I was involved with allowed mothers with children or first time moms to llve for free in a maternity home for up to two years.
- 47th Ward - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 5:17 pm:
===They generally do not get involved in advocating for state funded programs,…===
Why not? Paid parental leave, Medicaid enrollment, early childhood education and more could help more women than the good works by a few entities you’ve identified in your comment. Why wouldn’t these groups want all mothers to have access to these basic necessities?
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 5:32 pm:
===but crisis pregnancy centers do not just talk the woman out of an abortion===
Between you and me.
You just tattled on yourself.
- Odysseus - Monday, Sep 25, 23 @ 11:01 pm:
“These are thought of as deceptive organizations”
They are not “thought of”. They are.
- Mr. Jimmy - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 1:01 am:
===System spokeswoman Angie Muhs said, “Memorial Health has determined to focus its limited resources on activities and partnerships closely aligned with our mission to improve health and contribute to our ongoing work in health equity.”===
I thought the job of hospitals was to *save* lives.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Sep 26, 23 @ 7:28 am:
===I thought the job of hospitals was to *save* lives.===
Requiring women to have pregnancy continue to full term, over the health of the mother is… what?