Washington state’s King County Board of Health just ruled that crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) must display signage carrying disclaimers that they are not health care facilities. Broadly explains:

As a result of the ruling from the King County Board of Health, crisis pregnancy centers in the Washington county without medical licenses must now post notices reading, "This facility is not a health care facility." The disclaimer will be translated into ten languages, and also appear in print and digital advertising materials. The move is believed to affect around eight out of the 66 centers operating in Washington state.

This is a great step in the right direction in handling CPCs, which are often run by extreme anti-abortion groups who have no problem misleading vulnerable and scared women. They try to convince visitors to carry their pregnancy to term—even if it means peddling medically incorrect information to the people who pass through their doors.

Crisis pregnancy centers are typically unlicensed operations that pose as medical centers and are staffed by anti-abortion activists and funded by anti-abortion groups. Sometimes known as "limited service pregnancy centers," they often advertise online to target women who may need free assistance when assessing their pregnancy options, perhaps because they're uninsured. Their main purpose is to encourage undecided pregnant women to carry their pregnancies to term—and they frequently deploy pseudo-science to achieve these aims. Women are falsely told that abortions are painful and dangerous; that abortion is linked to an increased risk of breast cancer, or that it may lead to post-abortion stress syndrome, a condition that is not recognized by the medical establishment.

CPCs found in violation would have to pay fines of up to $100 for each day they do not display the signs, which would cost close to $40,000 per year.