New York Governor Blocks Extradition of Doctor Indicted for Prescribing Abortion Pills

Dr. Maggie Carpenter faces legal challenges in Louisiana and Texas, testing New York's shield law for abortion providers.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has refused Louisiana's request to extradite Dr. Maggie Carpenter, who is accused of prescribing abortion pills to a pregnant minor in Louisiana.
Dr. Carpenter, co-founder of the Abortion Coalition for Telemedicine, was indicted on charges of violating Louisiana's near-total abortion ban, which criminalizes abortion with severe penalties.
Louisiana officials allege Carpenter prescribed abortion pills to a minor whose mother has also been charged, claiming the minor experienced a medical emergency requiring hospitalization.
This case marks a significant legal test for New York's shield law, which protects healthcare providers offering reproductive services to patients in restrictive states.
Carpenter has also been fined over $100,000 in a separate Texas case for prescribing abortion pills, further highlighting the legal and political battles over reproductive rights in the U.S.