In an ongoing lawsuit filed by the state of California’s attorney general against two pro-life organizations for promoting abortion pill reversal (APR), an Illinois judge Oct. 29 ordered the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) to release communications with state personnel regarding APR.
Seventh Circuit Court Judge Jack Davis of Sangamon County Oct. 29 ordered ACOG to comply with a subpoena requested by the pro-life defendants, Heartbeat International, and RealOptions.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed the lawsuit in 2023 against the defendants on behalf of the state, alleging that the pro-life groups “engaged in false advertising and deceptive practices by their representations promoting ‘Abortion Pill Reversal,’” the order states. Bonta’s complaint depends in part on previous statements of ACOG and its position about APR, according to the order.
The Thomas More Society, which is representing the defendants, alleged in an Oct. 30 press release that it was previously revealed that “ACOG and State of California personnel strategized on APR messaging, and the Attorney General’s office conceded during argument that Bonta is relying on the ACOG statement to support his case.”
ACOG, which is not a party in the case, is required to answer the subpoena by turning over communications with state and attorney general office personnel, as well as communications between ACOG and “two abortion researchers who constructed studies seeking to discredit APR,” the release states.
TMS stated in the release that the lawsuit is “politically motivated” as it aims to punish pro-life pregnancy centers for providing information to women about how a chemical abortion can potentially be reversed using the right protocol.
Peter Breen, TMS’ executive vice president and head of litigation, hailed the court’s order as “a crucial win for truth and transparency.”
“For years, ACOG has issued sweeping, antagonistic, and misleading statements against Abortion Pill Reversal, which pro-abortion AGs like Rob Bonta have then used to attack pro-life pregnancy centers,” Breen said in the release. “The court’s discovery order means that ACOG will finally have to justify those statements and its coordination with California personnel to harm this life-saving treatment.”
Breen pointed out that ACOG is a powerful organization that says it speaks for OB/GYNs across the U.S., but it belittles pro-life pregnancy centers’ efforts and promotes abortion up to birth. Pro-life pregnancy centers should be supported because they empower women and offer a chance at reversing chemical abortions, Breen emphasized.
“With this new discovery from ACOG,” Breen said, “we intend to defeat Bonta’s lawsuit and protect Heartbeat and our nation’s pregnancy centers to continue their good work.”