New York Gov. Kathy Hochul steadfastly refused an extradition request for Dr. Margaret Carpenter, a physician charged with prescribing abortion pills online to a Louisiana resident. This refusal ignites a legal battle over abortion access in the wake of Roe v. Wade's overturn and tests New York's shield laws protecting providers who ship abortion medication to states with bans.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul firmly rejected a request to extradite Dr. Margaret Carpenter, a physician accused of prescribing abortion pills online to a Louisiana resident, escalating a legal battle over abortion access in the wake of the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Hochul made her stance clear at a news conference Thursday, stating, 'I will not be signing an extradition order that came from the governor of Louisiana , not now, not ever,' after her office received the request from Louisiana Gov.
Jeff Landry. Landry, who signed the extradition warrant on Tuesday, expressed his belief that 'there’s only one right answer in this situation, and it is that this doctor must face extradition to Louisiana, where she can stand trial and justice will be served,' in a video statement.The case revolves around an indictment handed down by a grand jury in West Baton Rouge Parish District Court last month. Carpenter, alongside her company Nightingale Medical and the Louisiana mother who ordered the abortion pills online for her underage daughter, faces charges of criminal abortion by means of abortion-inducing drugs, a felony. This unprecedented indictment marks the first known instance of a doctor being charged with sending abortion pills across state lines since the landmark Roe v. Wade decision was overturned. The outcome of this case could significantly impact the legal landscape surrounding abortion access, particularly in states with restrictive abortion laws. It also presents a direct test of New York's shield laws, designed to protect healthcare providers who prescribe and ship abortion medication to states where it is outlawed. West Baton Rouge District Attorney Tony Clayton stated his intention to pursue further prosecutions, emphasizing that 'if the same thing happens again, I’m going to prosecute again. I hope this is going to have a chilling effect on and anyone else to stop sending the pills to my state.' Louisiana's near-total abortion ban, which came into effect after the Dobbs decision in 2022, prohibits abortions except in cases of medical emergencies and does not make exceptions for rape or incest. If convicted, physicians could face up to 15 years in prison, fines of up to $200,000, and the loss of their medical licenses. Hochul, however, asserted that 'Louisiana has changed their laws, but that has no bearing on the laws here in the state of New York. Doctors take an oath to protect their patients. I took an oath of office to protect all New Yorkers, and I will uphold not only our constitution, but also the laws of our land,' demonstrating her commitment to protecting reproductive rights within New York's borders. The legal challenge extends beyond Louisiana, with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton also suing Carpenter in December for allegedly sending abortion pills to Texas. However, that case did not include criminal charges. In the wake of the indictment, Hochul signed legislation allowing abortion providers to use the names of their practices instead of their own names on prescription labels, further seeking to protect providers from potential legal repercussions in other states
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New York Governor Refuses to Extradite Doctor Facing Louisiana Abortion ChargesNew York Governor Kathy Hochul stands against the extradition of Dr. Margaret Carpenter, a New York physician indicted in Louisiana for allegedly prescribing abortion pills online. Hochul asserts that Louisiana's laws do not apply in New York and she will not comply with the extradition request. This case highlights the legal complexities and ongoing debates surrounding abortion access in the wake of the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
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New York Governor Refuses to Extradite Doctor Indicted in Louisiana for Providing Abortion PillsGovernor Kathy Hochul of New York has vowed to protect Dr. Margaret Carpenter, a New York physician indicted in Louisiana for allegedly prescribing abortion pills online. The indictment stems from a case involving a pregnant minor who allegedly took medication provided by her mother after ordering it online from Dr. Carpenter. Louisiana has implemented a near-total abortion ban, classifying mifepristone and misoprostol as 'controlled dangerous substances.' Dr. Carpenter, however, operates in New York, where abortion remains legal. Hochul emphasizes that Louisiana's laws do not apply in New York and she will not comply with any extradition request.
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New York Doctor Indicted in Louisiana for Sending Abortion PillsA New York doctor has been indicted by a Louisiana grand jury for allegedly prescribing abortion pills online in Louisiana, which has one of the strictest abortion bans in the country. This case marks a potential precedent for criminal charges against doctors accused of sending abortion pills across state lines.
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