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Governor Kathy Hochul has pledged to protect Dr. Margaret Carpenter, an Ulster County doctor indicted for allegedly sending abortion-inducing pills to a pregnant minor in Louisiana. The indictment, issued last week, has sparked national debate over women's healthcare and abortion rights, especially since Louisiana enforces one of the strictest near-total abortion bans in the United States.
Dr. Carpenter is accused of mailing the medication to a Baton Rouge-area mother, who allegedly forced her teenage daughter to take the pills. New York Attorney General Letitia James and Governor Hochul have both stated they will not extradite Dr. Carpenter to Louisiana. Governor Hochul called the charges "outrageous" and emphasized her commitment to protecting telehealth providers under New York's shield laws. "I will never, under any circumstances, turn this doctor over to the state of Louisiana under any extradition request," Hochul stated in a video message.
The case is the first of its kind since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022. Louisiana District Attorney Tony Clayton and Attorney General Liz Murrill argue that the case is about coercion, not reproductive rights. They allege the mother coerced her daughter into taking the pills, which led to medical complications. The mother has been charged and released on bond, while the minor will not face charges.
Governor Hochul's stance has drawn criticism from Louisiana officials, including Governor Jeff Landry, who insists the case is about coercion. The legal battle highlights the ongoing national debate over abortion rights and state laws.