Private Abortion Clinics Given the OK to Advertise Services on British TV

(The Blaze/ AP) Britain's broadcast advertising body has given the go-ahead for private abortion clinics to advertise their services on television.

The Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice says there is no justification for barring private clinics that offer post-pregnancy services, including abortions, from advertising on television. Nonprofit post-pregnancy services are already allowed to advertise on television, and their for-profit counterparts are allowed to advertise in all other media.

Conservative lawmaker Nadine Dories said the move would desensitize people to the seriousness of getting an abortion.

But committee spokesman Matt Wilson said the new rules would not allow companies to say: "Come to us to get an abortion." He said clinics would have to promote an "array of services."

Video of the first UK nonprofit abortion ad aired in May 2010:

Mark Bhagwandin, from the pro-life charity Life, told The Telegraph: “This is an extremely disappointing decision.

“The abortion industry has a lot of money behind it and these companies will have the means to run prime time television and radio advertising campaigns.

“This will trivialise and commercialise the decision to terminate a baby, putting it on the same footing as choosing other products advertised on television.

“I have no doubt that we will see a rise in abortions as a result of this.”