{"id":328248,"date":"2025-03-21T14:44:54","date_gmt":"2025-03-21T19:44:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.liveaction.org\/news\/?p=328248"},"modified":"2025-03-25T01:00:16","modified_gmt":"2025-03-25T06:00:16","slug":"california-pregnancy-centers-abortion-pill-reversal-trial","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.liveaction.org\/news\/california-pregnancy-centers-abortion-pill-reversal-trial\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Against Goliath’: California medical pregnancy centers set to defend ‘abortion pill reversal’ at trial"},"content":{"rendered":"
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In September of 2023, California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed suit<\/a> against Heartbeat International and RealOptions Obria \u2014 two medical pregnancy center groups \u2014 for allegedly \u201cmisleading patients\u201d about the prospects of \u201cabortion pill reversal\u201d (APR).<\/p>\n

Bonta wants to block the centers from advertising APR as \u201csafe and effective,\u201d claiming that the treatment<\/a> \u2014 which consists of administering the pregnancy-supporting hormone progesterone to outcompete the progesterone-blocking effects of the abortion pill, mifepristone \u2014 has \u201cno credible scientific backing, and has potential risks for patients who undergo it.\u201d In reality, progesterone has been recommended to and safely used by<\/a> women at risk of miscarriage, and the abortion industry has been aware for years<\/a> that the hormone progesterone may interfere with the abortion pill\u2019s mechanism of action.<\/p>\n

Valerie Hill, CEO of RealOptions Obria in California, spoke to Live Action News about the RealOptions medical centers, what they do, and where things currently stand as they progress toward a trial in early November of 2025.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Making the truth known\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Attorneys have been taking depositions from various employees of Heartbeat International (HBI) and RealOptions virtually, with some lasting multiple hours, Hill said. The medical director for RealOptions, Dr. Mary Davenport, is a longtime pro-life OBGYN whom Hill says \u201cwas a developer and researcher of APR along with Dr. [George] Delgado,\u201d and was deposed this week along with Hill and others despite a trial date set more than seven months into the future.<\/p>\n

Hill said that much of the attorneys’ questions seemed to revolve around how RealOptions raises funds \u2014 \u00a0and why they choose to use stories about \u201cabortion pill reversal\u201d (APR) in their newsletters, emails to supporters, and fundraising events.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOur supporters love to see when a mother who started abortion had a second chance at choice\u2026 and now has a beautiful child. This is very inspirational, educations, and exciting for our supporters,\u201d Hill reportedly told attorneys, adding, \u201cI\u2019m not being apologetic about what we do, I\u2019m speaking the truth to them about who we are and why we do what we do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hill said that Judge Michael Markman of the Superior Court in Alameda County in Oakland is the judge for their case.<\/p>\n

\u201cPray for Judge Markman, so that he will see the truth,\u201d Hill urged, noting that last year, Judge Markman ruled against HBI and RealOptions in a hearing. \u201cHe preemptively ruled against us and then heard our attorney\u2019s argument and said he would reconsider everything and he ruled against us again\u2026 it took about six weeks to get that ruling.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hill believes AG Bonta wants to \u201cmake an example of us because we have multiple clinics\u2026 or maybe because they figure they can make headway in a liberal county\u201d like Alameda.<\/p>\n

RealOptions Obria and Heartbeat International are grateful to be represented<\/a> by Paul Jonna and team from the Thomas More Society. \u201cWe have lots of people praying\u2026 and our team feels privileged by God to stand in the gap for abortion pill reversal and against the Goliath of abortion in California\u2026 and make the truth known and give God the glory,\u201d said Hill, who added that her hope in going through both persecution and prosecution by the state of California is \u201cthat out of it will come true informed consent for women who are being sold a bill of goods with the abortion pill.\u201d<\/p>\n