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A n advertisement for Pregnancy Counselling Services (PCS) played on Radio One has been removed due to “numerous complaints” from the public. The advert was also printed in the first two issues of Critic this year. The original advert stated: “On call 24/7, local people who care … Free counselling and information on your options.” Complaints received since, however, claim otherwise.

A complaint submitted by Matthew Peppercorn stated that PCS is actually an “anti-abortion organisation” — otherwise known as a pro-life group. Peppercorn stated the group is “Masquerading as trained counsellors, when they are not … Misleading people into thinking that they are receiving impartial counseling … Aiming adverts at vulnerable women” and “Falsely advertising their intentions to stop a possible abortion.” He added “advertising by an anti-abortion organisation should be honest and transparent so that young women know who they are talking to” and “women in a vulnerable situation should not be exploited by either side of the debate.”

Peppercorn further stated that the group was aiming to affiliate with OUSA; Critic notes that the pro-life group applying for affiliation is entirely separate, and PCS has not attempted to affiliate with OUSA at any time.

An individual on Facebook also stated that PCS is not a counselling service, but “a pro-life site.” It was claimed that PCS are connected to those who “stand outside the DPH with placards” to “terrorise young women” who have chosen abortion.

In response to the complaints on its Facebook page, Radio One said, “We sincerely apologise to our listeners for any offence or distress we may have caused by broadcasting this advertisement.”

In light of the accusations made against PCS, Critic tested the service. The consultant presented three options: keeping the child, terminating the pregnancy or adoption. Discussing the option of keeping the child seemed to garner the most favour, and the counsellor described the support available. She claimed that because of this support, continuing with the pregnancy would be unlikely to interfere with study. Furthermore, she said that one child would not be too difficult, and that, “nineteen is not too young, but young.”

Discussing termination resulted in a long list of cons to consider, such as, “grief for the baby you might have had, hormone build-up with no baby at the end” and the wide-held belief that “life begins with conception.” When asked what the physical, rather than emotional, concerns would be, the consultant said there was, “sometimes unexpected bleeding. The doctor needs to go and tidy things up a bit.”

Finally, the advice was to “write down your feelings every day, for and against” and to “be more careful next time you’re in a relationship.”

On the PCS website, the same three options are discussed. There is a “considering abortion page” that highlights the physical and emotional struggles that may come with the procedure. It states under the “Making a Decision” section: “We encourage you to understand your options so that you can make a fully informed decision about your pregnancy. The important thing to consider before deciding to have an abortion is that this decision is irreversible and can affect you for the rest of your life.” The site also has a “Recovery after Abortion” section, which offers assistance to those who have gone through with the procedure.

Underneath the abortion information links is information on adoption, and support from PCS is available for those suffering psychological stress post-adoption.

The site also offers support during pregnancy, including emotional support, information and practical help. This page has links for those considering abortion and adoption, so it is not apparent that the site favours one option over the other.

Media Spokesperson for PCS Sandy Simpson responded on Radio One’s Facebook page: “[PCS] is an independent agency with no connection to people who ‘stand outside the DHP with placards’, nor do [they] ‘brainwash anyone’.”

“As counsellors, we have varying backgrounds, including women who have themselves been students or young working women who had unplanned pregnancies and understand the shock and panic involved. We are trained to listen, respect the viewpoint, beliefs and goals of callers, ascertain their particular issues, address those with relevant info and then step back to leave the decision making to them.”