Texas AG Ken Paxton sues New York doctor for allegedly prescribing abortion pills to woman in Lone Star State
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, has taken legal action against Dr. Margaret Carpenter, a New York doctor accused of violating Texas law by prescribing abortion drugs to a woman in Collin County. The lawsuit alleges that Carpenter mailed pills to a 20-year-old woman in Texas, who took the medication when she was nine weeks pregnant.
The woman reportedly experienced severe bleeding after taking the pills and sought medical help from the baby’s father. The lawsuit does not specify whether the woman successfully terminated her pregnancy or if she suffered any long-term health complications from taking mifepristone and misoprostol.
This legal challenge by Paxton is significant as it tests the boundaries of state abortion laws following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022. Texas has strict abortion regulations, while New York has protective laws that allow doctors to provide abortion services to out-of-state patients.
Despite New York’s shield laws, which protect providers from prosecution in other states, Texas is determined to pursue cases like this. The outcome of this legal battle remains uncertain, as it raises complex legal issues such as extraterritoriality and interstate commerce.
The lawsuit highlights the conflicting abortion laws between states and the challenges of enforcing them across state lines. Texas prohibits prescribing abortion-inducing drugs by mail and requires physicians to have a valid Texas medical license to provide telehealth services to Texas residents.
Paxton’s lawsuit seeks to hold Carpenter accountable for violating Texas law by treating residents without a Texas medical license. He is requesting civil penalties of at least $100,000 for each violation and a court order to prevent Carpenter from practicing in Texas illegally.
“In this case, an out-of-state doctor violated the law and caused serious harm to this patient,” Paxton stated. “We value the health and well-being of mothers and babies in Texas, and out-of-state doctors must not illegally prescribe abortion-inducing drugs to Texas residents.”
Carpenter, who is associated with AidAccess and Hey Jane, faces legal consequences for her actions. The case underscores the complexities of abortion laws in a post-Roe v. Wade era and the challenges of enforcing them across state borders.
