Abortion Adverts in Britain
MailOnline reported on January 21, 2012:
"Private clinics that carry out abortions for profit are to get the go-ahead to promote their services with TV and radio adverts.
"Advertising watchdogs will trigger a storm of controversy by announcing the decision on Monday after years of argument, the Mail can disclose.
"Pro-life campaigners reacted with fury, saying the move would trivialise human life by putting the choice to have a termination on a par with buying washing-up liquid or cereal...
"More than 35 private hospitals in England currently offer abortion services, though many are better known for their maternity and fertility services.
"Critics say the reforms risk leaving the UK with among the most liberal advertising rules in the world..."
The Guardian, on January 21, 2012, also reported:
"Clinics offering a range of 'post-conception advice services' (PCAS), including counselling and terminations, will be free to advertise in broadcast media because there is no justification to prevent it as long as they are not harmful, offensive or misleading, the Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice (BCAP) said.
"Not-for-profit pregnancy services are already allowed to advertise on television and radio and for-profit clinics can already advertise in all other media, including newspapers.
"Under new rules clinics will have to make it clear in all advertising if they do not offer referral for termination...
"Matt Wilson, a spokesman for BCAP, said: 'There is not going to be some sort of free-for-all saying "come to us to get an abortion". They are not there to promote abortion, they have to promote an array of services. It is about being responsible and commercial pro-life pregnancy services will now be able to advertise too.'
"But the Tory MP Nadine Dorries told the Daily Mail: 'What this is actually going to do is desensitise what abortion is and the seriousness of it, and making it sounds like it's as easy as having your lunch.
"'It's appalling.'"



