Measure Requires Pregnancy Centers to Disclose by Sign if They Do Not Have Licensed Medical Professional on Staff
ROCKVILLE, Md., February 2, 2010—The Montgomery County Council, acting as the County’s Board of Health, today approved a regulation that requires all County pregnancy centers that do not have a licensed medical professional on staff to notify clients by posting at least one sign in their waiting room. The regulation, whose chief sponsor is Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg (D-At Large), also requires the signs to say that the Montgomery County Health Officer encourages women who are or may be pregnant to consult with a licensed health car provider.
The original resolution applied only to Limited Service Pregnancy Resource Centers that do not refer their clients for abortion or comprehensive contraceptive services, which are also known as Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs). However, the regulation adopted today by a 7-2 vote was amended by the Council’s Health and Human Services Committee to include all pregnancy centers in the County. In addition to Councilmember Trachtenberg, regulation co-sponsors Roger Berliner, Marc Elrich, Nancy Floreen, George Leventhal and Nancy Navarro, and Councilmember Valerie Ervin, voted in favor of the regulation. Councilmembers Phil Andrews and Mike Knapp voted against it.
Montgomery County is the first local jurisdiction in the nation to have such an action approved by its board of health. “Nothing is more important than the protection of the health and well-being of women in Montgomery County,” said Councilmember Trachtenberg, who is a member of the Council’s Health and Human Services Committee. “Requiring full disclosure of pregnancy centers is critical.”
The regulation approved today also amends the original regulation’s enforcement provisions to:
• Remove the provision indicating that each day a violation of the regular exists is a separate offense
• Remove the provision allowing “any affected party” to file suit to enjoin repeated violations
• Require the County’s Department of Health and Human Services to issue a written notice to a center violating the regulation before issuing a citation
The amended regulation applies to any pregnancy center that provides information about pregnancy-related services for a fee or as a free service.
Councilmember Trachtenberg said that the regulation is needed because some pregnancy centers often provide false and misleading information to women. She said that CPCs often tell clients that abortions make future pregnancy impossible; that abortions and oral contraceptives cause breast cancer; and that condoms are ineffective in preventing pregnancy and STDs. Overall, she said that CPCs often discourage women from seeking contraception or abortion.
To view the complete press release, click here.
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