New York abortionist fined for prescribing abortion drugs in Texas

State District Judge Bryan Gantt on Thursday ordered Dr. Margaret Carpenter to pay more than $100,000 in fines for prescribing abortion drugs to a woman near Dallas, the Associated Press reported. Gantt also issued an order barring Carpenter from prescribing the pills to Texas residents as it violates Texas’ pro-life laws. Carpenter practices family medicine in New York and is a co-founder of the Abortion Coalition for Telemedicine, a group that helps abortionists prescribe mifepristone and misoprostol to women in states where pro-life laws prohibit their use. New York law only protects babies after 24 weeks of pregnancy, unless a medical provider determines the mother’s physical or mental health is at risk, and minors do not need parental consent to obtain an abortion. Meanwhile, Texas law protects babies in all cases—including cases of rape or incest—unless the mother’s life is in danger, and individuals who perform an abortion could face civil and criminal penalties.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in December sued Carpenter for providing abortion pills to a woman in Collin County near Dallas. The woman experienced complications and required medical attention after taking the drugs, Paxton said. In addition to prohibiting doctors from prescribing the pills, Texas law also bars physicians from treating patients via telehealth unless they hold a valid Texas medical license.

Have any other officials spoken out about Carpenter’s actions? A Louisiana grand jury last month indicted Carpenter on felony charges for providing a pregnant minor with abortion drugs, the Associated Press reported. The jury also indicted the minor’s mother who prosecutors claim ordered the pills from Carpenter and gave them to her daughter. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said the doctor violated state laws that prohibit the sale of abortion drugs without a prescription and prohibit anyone from coercing a woman to obtain an abortion. The minor reportedly wanted to keep her unborn child but took the abortion pill at her mother’s urging, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said.

Murrill and Landry this week signed an extradition order to bring Carpenter to the state to face prosecution. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday said she would not sign the extradition order and state Attorney General Letitia James said officials would not restrict mothers or medical providers from aborting unborn children. Hochul earlier this month approved a law that would shield abortionists from prosecution by other states. The law would allow New York providers to prescribe mifepristone and misoprostol to women in other states by printing the name of their practice, rather than their own personal name, on the prescription. California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington also have similar laws in place.

Dig deeper: Read Leah Savas’ report in Vitals about Texas lawmakers considering punishments for women who abort their babies.