By: Rithika Kilari
In recent months, there has been a rising uproar on the ethical dilemma of abortion; while some label the procedure as ‘murder,’ others label it as a human right. Politico, a political journalism newspaper company, had leaked a draft of the Supreme court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in May of 2022. Immediately thereafter, people began voicing their opinions on the matter through various forms of social media, including Instagram and TikTok. Many, like Google Maps, have shown support by posting lists of resources to avoid when looking for an abortion.
Unfortunately, Google Maps regularly misleads people looking for an abortion clinic, instead leading them to CPCs (Crisis Pregnancy Centers), which are non-medical organizations that encourage people to go through with unwanted pregnancies.
Although a lot of the information has been accurate, such as about the role of Google Maps in anti-abortion, misinformation surrounding abortion continues to proliferate.
Some examples of misinformation include but are not limited to:
Abortion results in an increased risk of breast cancer and infertility
Abortion causes various mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Progesterone treatment, such as abortion pills (mifepristone and misoprostol) are an unproven and unethical idea
However, abortion-related misinformation doesn’t stop at social media. According to the American Journal of Public Health, “As of April 2021, 29 states have laws in place that detail the information a patient must be given or offered before having an abortion. In 22 states, mandated information materials include statements that are not supported by scientific evidence. These materials include inaccurate or misleading information indicating that abortion increases the risk of breast cancer (five states), infertility (three states), or negative mental health consequences (eight states). Other states include inaccurate information about fetal pain (13 states) or about reversing medication abortion after the first set of pills have been taken (six states). Seven states include inaccurate or misleading information in their materials even though it is not mandated by state law.”
There has been an increase in political incentive to spread abortion-related misinformation since the draft of the overturning of Roe v. Wade, so how does one differentiate between what’s true and false about abortion on social media?
There are several organizations, including Planned Parenthood and the Guttmacher Institute, that work hard to deliver accurate information about abortion based on science, research, and data-based evidence. Consulting such websites can provide accurate resources and information.
The American Journal of Public Health also believes that health science librarians have the ability to play a role in reversing abortion-related misinformation. Health science librarians are information professionals, librarians, or informaticists who have special knowledge in quality health information resources. Many believe that if these librarians are able to build partnerships with public health departments and abortion services, they will be able to develop authoritative resources, advocate for change through legislation, and raise public awareness about abortion misinformation.
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