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John,
Extreme anti-choice state officials in Texas and Louisiana are going after a New York doctor—but New York state officials are holding their ground.
Dr. Maggie Carpenter provided abortion care to out-of-state patients via telemedicine, a safe and common practice, with at least 1 in 4 abortion patients now accessing care remotely. But out-of-state extremists are looking to intimidate doctors by making an example of Dr. Carpenter.
Thankfully, pro-choice state and local elected officials are standing between Dr. Carpenter and potential jail time.
Make no mistake: this case illustrates the alarming escalation in attempts to criminally punish abortion doctors and patients. But it also demonstrates exactly how every elected official impacts our reproductive freedom, and why 80% of our work at Vote Pro-Choice happens at the state and local level:
📍 After Roe was overturned, New York state legislators passed a shield law to protect abortion providers practicing telemedicine from out-of-state prosecutions. Earlier this year, they strengthened those protections.
📍New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed these bills into law, and has pledged not to cooperate with out-of-state extradition requests against Dr. Carpenter.
📍On Monday, acting Ulster County Clerk Taylor Bruck rejected the effort from Texas to collect a $113,000 penalty against Dr. Maggie Carpenter.
📍 And in Texas and Louisiana, these attacks are originating with dangerous, extremist Attorneys General and District Attorneys, who are hellbent on putting doctors and patients behind bars.
This case isn’t just about one doctor. It’s about a coordinated movement to criminalize abortion care, and a nationwide network of state and local officials who can either enable that cruelty or stop it in its tracks.
Thank you for helping us build communities where doctors can practice medicine without fear, and patients can access the care they need when they need it.
In solidarity,
Sara Tabatabaie
Executive Director
Vote Pro-Choice
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