BBC Plans 2-Hour Live Broadcast From Abortion Clinic
Growing negative reaction to the BBC's plan to broadcast one of its Radio 5 Live shows from an abortion clinic is coming from pro-life groups in the United States as well as Europe.
During the two-hour live show hosted by Victoria Derbyshire, women who have chosen to have an abortion and some clinic staff members will be interviewed, according to The Independent, a London-based paper.
The show's location has yet to be announced and critics say the show is basically "free advertising" for pro-abortion groups.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
"Broadcasting from an abortion clinic is, once again, proof that the abortion industry is willing to exploit vulnerable women facing life and death decisions," responded Heartbeat International in a statement given to The Christian Post by the group's U.S. spokesperson Thursday. "Some of these women may come to regret their decision to abort, an ordeal that may be exacerbated by having their stories broadcast to a worldwide audience by the BBC."
The Independent reported that the pro-life charity group LIFE said: "Let's not be fooled. This program would promote the clinics and the abortion industry at a time when it is reeling from recent allegations of improper conduct.
"As if it is not enough that the industry is now being allowed to advertise abortions as a product, here comes the BBC with some free advertising."
The BBC says that Derbyshire's program from the clinic and its coverage later that day will be "robust and challenging and will offer an opportunity for both sides to discuss their views."
"What we want to do is to talk to everybody involved who works in a clinic – the receptionist, the doctors, the consultants, the counselors, and, if patients agree, we will talk to them," Derbyshire told the Independent.
The paper is also reporting that surprise inspections done last month by the health department revealed alleged unlawful activity at dozens of abortion clinics.
The inspections revealed that doctors had falsified abortion consent forms, according to local news reports. Doctors were allegedly pre-signing the forms without meeting the women requesting abortions or reviewing their medical notes.
An undercover investigation by The Daily Telegraph in February showed that women were being granted abortions after explaining to doctors that their baby is the "wrong sex."
"No woman should feel so alone, coerced or hopeless that she ends her child's life through abortion," Heartbeat International stated. "Women need emotional support and practical help during an unexpected pregnancy.
"Women also deserve the truth about the risks that can accompany aborting a baby. Abortion clinics often leave out the facts of human development and health consequences of abortion, putting abortion profits above what's really best for women and their babies."
Heartbeat International told CP that the organization works to reach and rescue as many lives as possible around the world.
"Our Christ-centered pregnancy centers accomplish this by restoring dignity to women who have been exploited, abandoned, objectified and traumatized. Heartbeat affiliated pregnancy centers help women to recognize the inestimable value of their children and to overcome the obstacles to marriage, adoption, or single parenthood so they can welcome each new life."
On the Web: http://www.heartbeatinternational.org/
