AG Letitia James names Long Island clinics in suit over abortion-reversal claims

A chain of Long Island crisis pregnancy centers falsely claimed it could safely reverse medication abortions, despite warnings from major medical associations that such claims are bogus, state Attorney General Letitia James alleged Monday.

James sued Soundview Pregnancy Services, also known as the Care Center, and 10 other crisis pregnancy organizations statewide, accusing them of running advertisements for “abortion pill reversal” treatments that the attorney general's office said are misleading and deceptive.

The lawsuit, filed in Manhattan State Supreme Court, also named Heartbeat International, a Columbus, Ohio-based pro-life group that offers alternatives to women who have second thoughts after having a medication abortion.

The suit seeks a court order removing “false and misleading claims” in marketing materials as well as thousands of dollars in fines.

Abortion pill reversal involves the use of progesterone, a naturally occurring hormone that affects menstrual periods. Heartbeat International has said the hormone can restore pregnancy after the use of mifepristone, a common abortion medication also known as RU-486.

James' office said there is a “glaring lack” of scientific evidence supporting the effectiveness of abortion pill reversal treatments, and added that the only clinical trial to evaluate such methods was suspended because of concerns for patient safety. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and other major medical associations have said abortion pill reversal is not supported by scientific research, James said.

“Abortions cannot be reversed,” James said in a statement. “Any treatments that claim to do so are made without scientific evidence and could be unsafe. Heartbeat International and the other crisis pregnancy center defendants are spreading dangerous misinformation by advertising 'abortion reversals' without any medical and scientific proof.”

Soundview, which has clinics in Centereach, East Meadow and Riverhead, did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. According to its website, the nonprofit offers pregnancy testing, counseling, after-abortion care and alternatives to abortion such as placing newborns up for adoption.

Heartbeat International sued James on April 30 in State Supreme Court to block her lawsuit. A statement on the nonprofit's website said James was seeking to “silence” the group and “deny women access to crucial information and support during unplanned pregnancies.”

A 2020 study that sought to evaluate the abortion-reversal method was discontinued when several women reported excessive bleeding, nausea and vomiting, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists website.

The organization cast doubt on studies claiming the treatment was effective, saying those studies lacked adequate supervision and did not follow standard medical guidelines. 

By Carl MacGowan

carl.macgowan@newsday.comCarlMacGowan

Carl MacGowan is a Long Island native who covers Brookhaven Town after having previously covered Smithtown, Suffolk County courts and numerous spot news and feature stories over his 20-plus year career at Newsday.