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California is suing two Christian anti-abortion nonprofits over a disputed treatment the groups call “abortion pill reversal” in a case that could reshape the nation’s ongoing battle over abortion rights.
An Alameda County judge heard six weeks of arguments in the case, and will ultimately decide whether the First Amendment shields two anti-abortion groups that promote a disputed hormone treatment, or whether their claims violate false advertising laws.
Attorney General Rob Bonta filed the complaint against Heartbeat International, Inc., a national anti-abortion group, and RealOptions Obria, a chain of Northern California anti-abortion clinics, in 2023 for promoting “abortion pill reversal” services.
The state’s lawyers argue there is no way to reverse a medication abortion and that the treatment touted by the groups is unproven and potentially dangerous. The state is seeking $20 million in penalties under California’s false advertising and unfair competition laws.
Heartbeat International and RealOptions counter that thousands of women bore healthy children after using their services and that their work is protected speech. Heartbeat runs the Abortion Pill Rescue Network, a hotline that connects callers with local providers who give patients high-dose progesterone in an attempt to counteract the abortion pill. Heartbeat has…
