First Abortion Ads to Hit British TV

Anti-abortion activists are seeking to block the first TV commercial advertising abortion services from reaching British screens next week. The Marie Stopes organization says the ad will direct women facing unplanned pregnancies to "clear, non-judgmental information" on abortion services, but opponents say it's "grotesque" that abortion providers are being allowed to advertise their services on TV, the Guardian reports.

Marie Stopes officials say they commissioned the ad campaign after a survey found that fewer than half of British women knew where to turn for specialist advice on unplanned pregnancies. Anti-abortion groups have urged members to lodge complaints about the ad with Britain's Advertising Standards Authority, although the regulator says it only deals with complaints about the contents of ads, not the actual service being advertised.
(More abortion stories.)