Washington, D.C. — Yesterday, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (“EFF”) urged state Attorneys General in Florida, Texas, Arkansas, and Missouri to investigate unregulated pregnancy clinics (“UPCs”) misuse of personal health information, potentially violating individuals’ right to privacy.
EFF’s complaints come on the heels of calls for investigations being sought by attorneys general and nonprofit watchdog organizations to provide much-needed oversight over the UPC industry. In the past year alone, requests for investigation have been made in ten states calling on attorneys general to investigate unregulated pregnancy clinics for misrepresenting legal protections that do not appear to apply to clients’ personal health information they are collecting. At the center of these actions is Heartbeat International, a national anti-choice organization boasting over 3,600 affiliates, to which every cited unregulated pregnancy clinic is connected.
“The flagrant breach of privacy taking place at unregulated pregnancy clinics across the country is not only a violation of trust but a deeply troubling exploitation of vulnerable women seeking their care,” said Debra Rosen, executive director of Reproductive Health and Freedom Watch. “We support any and all efforts to investigate UPCs and demand immediate action to protect the rights and dignity of those affected and are encouraged by the growing number of calls for investigations taking place across the country.”
The United States Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) has also recently confirmed that UPCs are not covered by HIPAA, suggesting they may be collecting sensitive health information without legal accountability.
For more information:
- EFF to State AGs: Time to Investigate Crisis Pregnancy Centers
- STATEMENT: Louisiana AG Must Act to Ensure Women Know Unregulated Pregnancy Clinics Are Under No Legal Obligation To Protect Their Sensitive Health Information
- Campaign for Accountability Asks Attorneys General to Investigate Crisis Pregnancy Centers for Deceptive Practices
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Contact us at press@reproductivehealthfreedom.us