Andy Drozdziak
Pro-life advocates have criticised the ‘bias’ of a BBC Panorama programme.
The programme, entitled Crisis Pregnancy Centres Uncovered and presented by Divya Talwar, stated that ‘some clinics operating outside the NHS are giving misleading information, and offering counselling that could persuade women not to have abortions.’
During the Panorama investigation, the BBC investigated three pregnancy centres when a woman visited the centre with hidden cameras. The BBC said that ‘a third of these services give misleading medical information or unethical advice,’ which was dismissed by leading Catholic medic Dermot Kearney.
“A sign of the bias employed by the makers of the documentary was their choice of commentators.” Dr. Kearney told the Universe.
“One was Jonathan Lord, the RCOG spokesperson on abortion and the current Medical Director of MSI Reproductive Choices (formerly Marie Stopes International). He could not be considered a neutral voice on the issue of abortion and crisis pregnancy centres offering mothers a real alternative to abortion in crisis pregnancies.” Katherine O’Brien from BPAS, the UK’s largest abortion provider, was also a commentator on the programme.
At one point in the programme, Jo Holmes, spokesperson for the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, said: “It’s not a baby when you’ve got a choice; it’s a pregnancy or unplanned pregnancy or an unintended or an unwanted pregnancy.”
“It seems that no pro-life person, upholding the value of all human life from conception, was asked to participate in the documentary to offer any semblance of balanced reporting or fairness,” Dr. Kearney said.
Dr. Kearney pointed to the omission in the programme of the ‘wonderful volunteers’ who work at Crisis Pregnancy Centres.
“The makers of the documentary completely ignored the tens of thousands of positive experiences enjoyed by women and families who have been supported by the wonderful volunteers working at CPCs,” he said.
“The makers of the programme take issue with volunteers at some CPCs advising that abortion may lead to serious mental health problems, subsequent infertility and an increased risk linking abortion to later development of breast cancer. There is actual evidence, however, supporting each of these claims,” he said, adding that the BBC should investigate ‘the sordid practices of the abortion industry,’ and ‘the grave and widespread issue of abortion coercion.’
Catherine Robinson, spokesperson for Right To Life UK, criticised the programme’s ‘lack of balance’.
“This was clearly a hit piece designed to do damage to the credibility of people throughout the UK who give many of hours of their own time each year to volunteer to support women facing unplanned pregnancies so they are able to continue their pregnancies,” she said.
“We are encouraging supporters to make an official complaint to the BBC about the lack of balance and an obvious bias.”
Clare McCullough from the Good Counsel Network also criticised the BBC for its ‘bias and ‘agenda’.
“I think the BBC are totally biased on this issue. I’ve been interviewed several times by the BBC. And I have found that there is completely an agenda there. There’s a lot of emphasis on shutting down the pro-life voice at the moment,” she said.
A BBC spokesperson responded to criticisms by telling Premier: “The Panorama documentary was rigorously researched and produced in accordance with the BBC’s editorial guidelines. The investigation included a wide range of voices, witnesses, and contributors with experience in the field.”
Picture of Dermot Kearney: CNS photo/Simon Caldwell#
BBC I-player Panorama screengrab