Nonprofit watchdog Campaign for Accountability finds that three South Dakota “crisis pregnancy centers”—Zoecare in Wagner, Haven Center in Watertown, and Bella in Spearfish—are among 100 CPCs around the country that falsely tell women they can rule out nonviable ectopic pregnancy with free ultrasounds:
Ectopic pregnancy is a rare complication that happens when an embryo implants outside of the uterus. If it implants in a fallopian tube, the tube can rupture, which can be life threatening.
The problem is that a single ultrasound can’t determine whether a pregnancy is ectopic.
This week, Campaign for Accountability, a nonprofit watchdog organization, sent a letter to New York Attorney General Leticia James requesting that her office investigate whether crisis pregnancy centers in New York are fraudulently advertising to women about their ability to diagnose ectopic pregnancies.
“By leading patients to believe that their services are adequate substitutes for medical diagnoses, [crisis pregnancy centers] may cause women to forgo comprehensive medical care, resulting in their suffering grievous bodily injury,” reads the letter, shared exclusively with NPR.
The organization found 100 examples in 49 states of pregnancy centers using language on their websites about how they can “rule out” ectopic pregnancies.
The harm is not hypothetical. The letter cites cases in Texas and Massachusetts, where women in those states went to pregnancy centers that missed ectopic pregnancies.
“They were told that their pregnancies were viable or told that everything was fine,” explains Michelle Kuppersmith, executive director of Campaign for Accountability. “And then later they found themselves in the hospital with an ectopic pregnancy that was not diagnosed by the crisis pregnancy center.”
Kuppersmith says they may send more letters to attorneys general in other states. “We’re hoping that by continuing to expose this issue, that there will be additional attention to it, and that perhaps these centers will do the right thing and stop trying to make claims to women about things that they can’t actually do” [Selena Simmons-Duffin, “Why Are Crisis Pregnancy Centers Saying They Can ‘Rule Out’ Ectopic Pregnancies?” NPR.org: Morning Edition, 2026.06.24].
Kuppersmith should send a letter to South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley. He’s all about busting entities whose false advertising endangers South Dakota women!
Campaign for Accountability can direct Jackley to the following dangerous and misleading text on the websites of Zoecare, Haven Center, and Bella:
- Zoecare: “Even if you’ve had a positive pregnancy test, you will need an ultrasound to confirm the pregnancy, determine how far along you are, and rule out an ectopic or tubal pregnancy.” “If you think that you may be pregnant, schedule an appointment for a pregnancy test. At ZoeCare, you’ll receive answers to your questions and access to reliable information to help you make a well-informed choice. If you are pregnant, you may be eligible for an ultrasound. All of our services are free and confidential.”
- Haven Center: “The next step would be to confirm if your pregnancy is viable and rule out an ectopic pregnancy or a natural miscarriage. Abortion pills do not work if the pregnancy is outside of the uterus. Conception calculators can only estimate gestational age based on your last menstrual period. Contact us for free pregnancy testing and an ultrasound to find out how far along you are and the options available to you.”
- Bella: “An ultrasound will: Confirm whether the pregnancy is viable (whether it is progressing or it has miscarried); Estimate how far along you are; Determine where the pregnancy is located (to rule out ectopic pregnancy) At Bella, we understand that deciding what to do next can feel overwhelming. That’s why we’re here to provide support, accurate information, and services like limited obstetrical ultrasounds and pregnancy options education—all at no cost.”
I check this morning—yup, still there, Marty:
Three South Dakota anti-abortion persuasion centers are falsely advertising the information that their ultrasound services can provide, creating the risk that South Dakota women will fail to seek necessary medical attention. The Attorney General should be knocking those centers’ doors today with cease-and-desist orders and arrest warrants.