NY Law Shields Abortion Providers' Identities

New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed a law allowing healthcare providers to use their practice name on abortion pill prescriptions to shield their identities, following the indictment of New York doctor Margaret Carpenter by a Louisiana grand jury for prescribing abortion pills to a minor. This legislation aims to protect doctors from prosecution in states with strict abortion laws, as Carpenter's name on the label led to her identification. Hochul has refused to extradite Carpenter and emphasized New York's commitment as a safe haven for reproductive healthcare providers. The case marks the first known prosecution of an out-of-state doctor for prescribing abortion medication since Roe v. Wade was overturned. The law is part of New York's broader effort to strengthen protections for healthcare professionals and their patients amid increasing restrictions on reproductive rights across the U.S.