A New York doctor was indicted for prescribing an abortion pill in Louisiana. But a shield law could protect her. Here’s how they work.

Reproductive healthcare providers in New York State who describe abortion pills for patients outside the country are now an additional layer of protection.

New York Governor Cathy Hochol Actual new legislation immediately signed Monday This says that the prescribed doctor can ask his name to leave the pill bottles, instead only in including the name of healthcare practice on medicine stickers.

the New law It is in addition to the current shield laws in New York that protect the characteristics that use health care services from a distance to provide abortion pills to patients through state lines, even in the states where abortion is banned.

Hochul’s quick work comes a few days after the New York doctor, Margaret Carpenter, and its practice A major jury accused In Louisiana for describing the pills of abortion that a teenager has taken in the state. The mother of the minor was also accused.

The case seems to be the first case in which the country in which abortion is brought in criminal charges against a doctor in another state to prescribe the abortion medications. Hochol said on Monday that The authorities in Louisiana Discover the name of a carpenter because he was on the poster.

This is what you should know:

How do shield laws work?

The laws of the shield, as they relate to reproductive care, are the laws of the state that protect the abortion providers, patients with abortion and people who help others in reaching abortion in the states where they are banned. Shield laws protect these individuals as long as they comply under the laws of abortion in the country they practice and licensed.

For example, the provider who has a license in New York, physically present in New York, in addition to the New York abortion law, New York will not facilitate any civil law or criminal investigation of this provider under the Shield Law, and Rachel Rebeshi, a professor at the Law Faculty of Temple University, said to the University Yahoo News.

“New York, for example, says that any government person or agency will issue any summons, arrest or hand him over if the person in the other state is not criminal in the provider,” explains Rebouché. “It will not require a disciplinary action in the New York State Council, and will not increase the secure of wrong practices.”

Abortion pills are the most common way to end pregnancy, as 63 % of abortion in the United States in 2023, according to Goette InstituteResearch Organization that supports abortion rights.

Despite the decreases in reaching miscarriage in the states that enacted a total or soon proximity after the fall of Roe V. Wade in 2022, monthly abortion rates in general increased in the country, according to a report By Family Planning Association.

SHIELD laws, which allow doctors outside the state to prescribe a distance healthy abortion, played a major role in maintaining access to the procedure for patients in the states of both the total and six weeks.

There were 9,200 abortions from a distance remotely submitted under the laws of the shield from January to March 2024, an increase of 16 % from October to December 2023, according to the Family Planning Association report.

What countries have shield laws?

Currently, 18 states have a form of shield laws between states. Eight of those states – California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Rod Island, Vermont and Washington – have shield laws that include remote health provisions, which also protect service providers regardless of where the patient received care.

In the case of the carpenter, it was claimed that she had prescribed abortion medications through a visit from a patient in Louisiana, while she was physically present in New York State, which is legal for the provider under New York State Law. Then the abortion drug was delivered by mail.

Last year, Louisiana issued a law This is specifically classified as abortion drugs, known as MivePristone and Misoprostol, as dangerous and dangerous materials under the state law.

MivePristone, which is also used to treat miscarriage, is often paired with a second drug and is usually used within 12 weeks of pregnancy. Both have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for more than 24 years.

What is the next of the case against the carpenter?

Louisiana was A ban close to miscarriage In its place since ROE turns, without any exceptions to rape or incest. Under the state’s abortion law, health care providers who were convicted of illegal abortion, including the prescription of abortion drugs, face up to 15 years in prison, $ 200,000 in fines and the loss of their medical license.

Hatol He said last week It will never “will never turn under any circumstances [Carpenter] To Louisiana, according to any delivery request. “

New York Public Prosecutor Leitia James, who will implement the New York Shield Law, He said in a statement The “cowardly attempt” Louisiana … to put the law weapon against service providers outside the state is unfair and unanimous.

According to some experts, the carpenter may be at risk of detention if it travels to Louisiana, or another country without a shield law. “if [Carpenter] “She goes to Louisiana, and she will be subject to Louisiana’s law … and she may face arrest,” says Rebisian. “There may be something issued that New York may not be honored, but New York Shield if you don’t say anything about what other countries could do.”