Zincwarrior
Diamond Member
Louisiana is attempting to extradite a California doctor for mailing abortion pills to a Louisiana woman. Abortion is illegal in Louisiana. Inversely, California has a shield law protecting abortion providers including pharmacies from such efforts. This could get spicy!
Louisiana seeks extradition of California doctor accused of mailing abortion pills
Louisiana officials are pushing for a California doctor accused of illegally mailing abortion medication to be returned to the state to face charges, according to Attorney General Liz Murrill (R).
Murrill announced Tuesday that Remy Coeytaux, a San Francisco-area physician, had been indicted in St. Tammany Parish on a criminal charge of abortion by means of abortion-inducing drugs. The charge carries a maximum penalty of up to 50 years in prison and fines.
Authorities allege Coeytaux shipped the abortion-inducing drugs mifepristone and misoprostol to a Louisiana woman, who then took the pills to end her pregnancy. Court documents state the woman learned of the drugs through AidAccess, an Austria-based telemedicine business.
“This is not healthcare; it’s drug dealing,” Murrill, who was set to testify Wednesday before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions during a hearing on mifepristone, said in a Tuesday statement.
“Individuals who flagrantly and intentionally violate our laws by sending illegal abortion pills into our state placing women in danger,” she added. “We’ve seen the proof of that, with women showing up in emergency rooms after taking these pills and being coerced into abortions.”
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry (R) confirmed in a post on social platform X later that afternoon that he would sign the extradition paperwork.
“Louisiana has a zero tolerance policy for those who subvert our laws, seek to hurt women, and promote abortion,” Landry said. “I know Gavin Newsom supports abortion in all its forms, but that doesn’t work in Louisiana. We are unapologetically pro-life.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has not publicly stated whether his state will comply.
Louisiana has some of the strictest anti-abortion laws in the country, including a total ban that was triggered after the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade in 2022. The ban includes only limited exceptions for the life and health of the mother and fatal fetal anomalies, but not rape or incest.
The state’s attempt to extradite Coeytaux sets up a direct test of California’s shield law, which protects health care providers and patients from out-of-state investigations and prosecutions related to abortion and gender-affirming care.
Louisiana seeks extradition of California doctor accused of mailing abortion pills
Louisiana officials are pushing for a California doctor accused of illegally mailing abortion medication to be returned to the state to face charges, according to Attorney General Liz Murrill (R).
Murrill announced Tuesday that Remy Coeytaux, a San Francisco-area physician, had been indicted in St. Tammany Parish on a criminal charge of abortion by means of abortion-inducing drugs. The charge carries a maximum penalty of up to 50 years in prison and fines.
Authorities allege Coeytaux shipped the abortion-inducing drugs mifepristone and misoprostol to a Louisiana woman, who then took the pills to end her pregnancy. Court documents state the woman learned of the drugs through AidAccess, an Austria-based telemedicine business.
“This is not healthcare; it’s drug dealing,” Murrill, who was set to testify Wednesday before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions during a hearing on mifepristone, said in a Tuesday statement.
“Individuals who flagrantly and intentionally violate our laws by sending illegal abortion pills into our state placing women in danger,” she added. “We’ve seen the proof of that, with women showing up in emergency rooms after taking these pills and being coerced into abortions.”
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry (R) confirmed in a post on social platform X later that afternoon that he would sign the extradition paperwork.
“Louisiana has a zero tolerance policy for those who subvert our laws, seek to hurt women, and promote abortion,” Landry said. “I know Gavin Newsom supports abortion in all its forms, but that doesn’t work in Louisiana. We are unapologetically pro-life.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has not publicly stated whether his state will comply.
Louisiana has some of the strictest anti-abortion laws in the country, including a total ban that was triggered after the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade in 2022. The ban includes only limited exceptions for the life and health of the mother and fatal fetal anomalies, but not rape or incest.
The state’s attempt to extradite Coeytaux sets up a direct test of California’s shield law, which protects health care providers and patients from out-of-state investigations and prosecutions related to abortion and gender-affirming care.
