Pro-life group faces complaint over leaflet with "dangerous" abortion misinformation

A Dutch advertising watchdog will hear a complaint against pro-life organization Kies Leven over a leaflet distributed outside abortion clinics. The leaflet reportedly contains "dangerous and medically inaccurate" information about abortion.

The complaint was filed by the Samen naar de Kliniek foundation, which trains volunteers to accompany women to appointments at abortion clinics. It argues that a statement in the leaflet could mislead women and put their lives at risk.

The Advertising Code Committee (RCC) will hear the case on Thursday. It is the third time in just over a year that the committee has reviewed informational materials produced by anti-abortion organizations.

The dispute concerns a letter titled "Bescherm je baby," which translates to protect your baby. A Kies Leven distributed the papers outside an abortion clinic in Rotterdam earlier this year. The leaflet says, "If you have not yet taken the second pill, there is still a way back in many cases!” It also provides a mobile phone number that women can call.

The abortion regimen involves two different midactions taken at separate times. Samen naar de Kliniek argues that the statement wrongly suggests a pregnancy can safely continue after the first pill, and the women who follow the advice could face serious health risks.

Kies Leven rejected the complaint in a written response, arguing that the foundation initially misquoted the leaflet. The complaint used the world “usually” instead of “in many cases,” the organization said, noting that the former implies a majority of cases while the latter does not.

Samen naar de kliniek later acknowledged the musquoatation. It did, however, maintain that the statement remains misleading because it suggests a pregnancy can continue without risk after the first medication.