Note from the editor: The following letter was submitted in response to a column printed in the April 22 issue of The BG News.
Bowling Green Pregnancy Center/HerChoice is a faith-based, 501 c3 non-profit organization that has been serving women and families in the Bowling Green area since 1985. BGPC respects the thoughts and opinions of others, even if they differ from ours. The same freedoms that allow us to operate our center, also allow others to disagree with us. However, sometimes it becomes necessary to address discrepancies and misconceptions associated with the services offered at our center.
BGPC has no political affiliation. We receive no government aid and are completely donor funded. All the services we provide are free of charge for our clients, and we never benefit financially from any pregnancy or parenting decisions a client makes. We abide strictly by HIPAA standards and respect the privacy of all our clients.
BGPC is also CLIA Certified (The Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments “CLIA” are the federal regulatory standards that apply to all clinical laboratory testing performed on humans in the United States, with the exception of clinical trials and basic research).
We offer limited obstetrical ultrasounds. These ultrasounds are done by registered nurses who are certified sonographers. We have an on-staff board-certified registered nurse and our team of RNs have over 50 years of combined experience. The ultrasounds performed at our center check for viability (specifically, verifying that the pregnancy is in the uterus), detect a fetal heartbeat and obtain measurements to calculate gestational age. Each ultrasound scan performed at BGPC is reviewed by a board-certified radiologist.
We do not perform or refer for abortion. We tell clients this over the phone, and it is listed on our client in-take paperwork that each client must sign. We have trained staff to discuss parenting, adoption and abortion. We believe every person has the right to make an informed decision based on scientific facts from someone who will never benefit financially from the decision he or she makes. We present medically accurate information on fetal development and abortion procedures and risks. All of the information referenced is from medical texts, journals, books, studies and OB-GYN medical doctors.
Our staff operates under the supervision of a medical board consisting of board-certified medical doctors and registered nurses. Our BGPC medical director is a board-certified physician. For clients who choose to carry and parent, we offer classes on parenting and a wide variety of other topics, assistance with material needs such as diapers, wipes, formula, clothing, cribs, car seats and much more. We also offer adoption referrals, and referrals to other services such as WIC, reduced cost childcare and much more.
Again, all of these services are free of charge for any client who walks through our doors. Regardless of the decision a client makes, (even if she chooses abortion) we offer compassion and non-judgmental support. For women who are struggling emotionally or spiritually from a past abortion, we offer abortion healing classes. We do not hide the fact that we are a faith-based organization. We are respectful to each person who seeks our services, and it is our goal to serve and treat each person with dignity and respect, even those who oppose us.
