Well Woman Centre calls for end to ‘rogue’ pregnancy counselling
The Well Woman Centre has called on Minister for Health Mary Harney to take immediate action to prevent what the organisation has called ‘rogue pregnancy counselling services’ from operating in the State.
“This morning’s broadcast by Newstalk 106 of recordings made by their reporter provides hard evidence to demonstrate the appalling tactics employed by a Dublin-based rogue pregnancy counselling service,” said Well Woman’s chief executive, Alison Begas.
“From Well Woman’s experience, we know that these tactics are used by other rogue agencies around the country.
“The reaction of the Minister for Health, Mary Harney, following the broadcast, is worrying, and indicates that she does not intend to take any immediate action at Government-level to regulate pregnancy counselling services.
“Instead, she suggested that the Crisis Pregnancy Agency was the vehicle for dealing with these rogue operations.
“The Crisis Pregnancy Agency has done an excellent job in consolidating information about pregnancy services, and in funding the expansion of these services, but rogue agencies continue to operate in a vacuum, without any regulation or accountability.
“Regulation of pregnancy counselling services can only be progressed at Government level, and Well Woman would urge the Minister for Health to revisit her position and take a lead on this issue.”
Well Woman provides a non-directive pregnancy counselling service which is funded by the Crisis Pregnancy Agency, and which operates under the Information Act (1995).
Last week, in publishing its annual report, Well Woman highlighted that it continued to see a steady stream of women attending its pregnancy counselling service who had previously attended a 'rogue' service.
“We respect the fact that abortion is an emotive issue, and people will have strong views on it,” said Begas. “At the same time, it is not acceptable that a woman who seeks information about abortion – as is her constitutional right – should be subjected to scare tactics by rogue services.
“Most women who find themselves in a crisis pregnancy situation are anxious and shocked, and need a confidential and non-judgemental environment in which they can consider the best option for themselves.
“From today’s excellent undercover report by Newstalk, it is clear that rogue agencies play upon women’s anxiety and very often plunge them into a state of trauma.”
