Arkansas Right to Life (ARTL) Executive Director Rose Mimms applauded Attorney General Tim Griffin May 21 for issuing cease and desist letters to New York-based Choices Women’s Medical Center, Inc. and Aid Access of the Netherlands for potential violations of the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act (ADTPA) related to abortion pill marketing and sales.
“Arkansas Right to Life applauds the actions of Attorney General Tim Griffin in his efforts to protect pregnant women in Arkansas from those who prey on them and seek to profit monetarily when they are in crisis,” said Mimms. “Arkansas Right to Life supports the efforts of the ‘Every Mom Matters’ initiative of the Arkansas Department of Health and the almost 50 nonprofit pregnancy resource centers around our state that offer actual resources that assist in healthy pregnancies and outcomes for mothers and families who plan to parent or place a child for adoption.”
Griffin’s cease and desist letter reads: “Abortions are prohibited in Arkansas except under very limited circumstances. As such, abortion pills may not be legally shipped to Arkansans or brought into the state for use by Arkansans. My office has verified that both Choices Women’s Medical Center, Inc. and Aid Access are advertising the availability of abortion-inducing pills to Arkansans in contravention of our laws.”
He added, “These companies must cease and desist advertising relating to the performance of abortion services in Arkansas immediately or face the possibility of lawsuits from my office. As Attorney General, I will continue fighting to enforce the laws of our state.”
The Attorney General has the authority to sue violators of the ADTPA and seek civil penalties of $10,000 per violation. Griffin said both companies must provide written notification within 14 days detailing the actions they’ve taken to comply with the cease-and-desist letter.