Advertising abortion

Abortion clinics could soon be advertised on television and radio for the first time. Restrictions on the advertising of condoms on television could also be relaxed under a shake-up of the rules put forward in an effort to halt high rates of teenage pregnancy. Adverts for pregnancy advisory services could be allowed in prime-time evening slots on the major channels and radio following consultation by advertising watchdogs. But advertisers must stipulate if the service does not refer women directly for abortion under the new proposals. One of Britain's biggest independent pregnancy advisory service, whose clinicians perform abortions as well, said it would immediately consider running adverts. Julie Douglas, head of marketing at Marie Stopes International, said: "I don't know if we could afford to do it in prime-time TV, but it would be a very interesting thing to do." Conservative MP Nadine Dorries who led calls for a cut in the upper time limit for abortions from 24 weeks to 20, said the proposal was "just plain sick". "I am quite sure that any adverts will depict smiling pretty nurses, gleaming reception areas and leafy car parks," she wrote in her blog. "They will not in any way show the fear, anguish, isolation, or subsequent depression."

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ITN | March 26, 2009

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