Texas AG Paxton Sues NY Doctor in First Challenge to Shield Law Over Abortion Pills

Dec 13, 2024, 08:22 PM

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against a New York doctor, accusing her of illegally prescribing and mailing abortion pills to a Texas woman in violation of Texas state law, including the Human Life Protection Act. The lawsuit alleges that the doctor provided the medication via telemedicine, leading the woman to seek emergency medical care. This case marks Texas's first legal action against an out-of-state abortion provider and the first challenge to shield laws enacted by Democratic-controlled states like New York, which aim to protect doctors from out-of-state prosecution. The lawsuit underscores Paxton's ongoing efforts to further restrict abortion access in Texas and sets the stage for a significant legal battle over interstate telemedicine and conflicting state abortion laws.