Zebra Fact Check encountered another abortion-related fact check basing its argument on a fallacy of equivocation. We sent a correction request to Annenberg Fact Check (FactCheck.org) on July 15, 2022.
Regarding your SciCheck article “Abortion Is Sometimes Medically Necessary, Contrary to Facebook Posts.”
The article on the whole represents a fallacy of equivocation. The article admits the LiveAction post (in the video) defines abortion as a procedure to “directly and intentionally” end a life. Your fact check then tested the “medically necessary” claim using a different definition of “abortion.” It’s okay to do that if the LiveAction definition is wrong (you didn’t show that, though you loosely implied it), though the fact check should include that explanation before trying to contradict one definition with another. But the video uses a traditional legal definition of abortion, so you should probably consider that path closed.
What would help readers without committing a fallacy of equivocation? Explain the definitions. Add that not every legal definition is the same (don’t take parts of legal definitions out of context!). You can explain whether the Facebook post is correct according the definition it offers, then explain that the traditional legal definition may not apply depending on how a state law is constructed (concrete examples recommended).
Don’t rely on Health Feedback’s reporting. The paragraph where you cited that fact checker relied on an altered quotation of Lila Rose (documented here). That alteration was essential to the argument Health Feedback lodged against Rose over her claim that, as you paraphrased, “early delivery is an alternative to abortion.” In fact, Rose said early delivery *may* be an option. Health Feedback changed the quotation, making it look like Rose was saying early delivery was always an option and then debunking what she had not said.
You amplified misleading information.
It’s not appropriate for a fact checker to debunk claims by using fallacies of equivocation. Please correct that error.