A Louisiana woman has pleaded not guilty to a felony charge after allegedly obtaining abortion pills from a New York doctor and giving them to her teenage daughter to terminate a pregnancy. This case has sparked a legal battle between Louisiana’s near-total abortion ban and New York’s shield laws. The woman’s arraignment is part of what may be the first instance of criminal charges against a doctor accused of sending abortion pills to another state.
Last year, the woman requested abortion medication online from Dr. Margaret Carpenter in New York for her daughter. The teenager experienced a medical emergency after taking the pills and was treated at the hospital. An investigation revealed that an out-of-state doctor had supplied the drugs. The woman and Carpenter have been indicted on felony charges of criminal abortion by means of abortion-inducing drugs.
The use of abortion pills has become a contentious issue in the U.S., with political and legal battles surrounding accessibility and legality. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists considers mifepristone and misoprostol safe and effective for ending pregnancies.
Louisiana law allows for up to 15 years in prison, $200,000 in fines, and the loss of a medical license for physicians convicted of performing illegal abortions. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry has issued a formal extradition order for Carpenter to face charges in Louisiana, but New York Governor Kathy Hochul has refused to sign it. Meanwhile, Texas State District Judge Bryan Gantt has ordered Carpenter to pay a penalty for allegedly breaking Texas law by prescribing abortion medication via telemedicine. This case highlights the complexities of abortion laws and access across states.
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