In a significant legal victory for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a state judge has ordered a New York doctor to pay a penalty of at least $100,000 and to stop providing abortion medication to women in Texas. The ruling, issued on Thursday by Judge Bryan Gantt in Collin County, highlights the growing legal battle over conservative states’ power to regulate abortion access beyond their borders.
The case centres on Dr Margaret Carpenter, a New Paltz-based physician and founder of the Abortion Coalition for Telemedicine. Texas authorities accused Carpenter of illegally prescribing mifepristone and misoprostol—the two drugs used for medication abortions—to a Texas woman via telemedicine. After Carpenter failed to respond to the state’s civil lawsuit, Gantt entered a default judgment against her.
Neither Carpenter nor the Abortion Coalition for Telemedicine immediately responded to requests for comment. However, the coalition has previously criticised Paxton’s legal actions, arguing that they endanger women by restricting access to safe and effective reproductive healthcare.
The ruling comes amid increasing legal battles over abortion access following the 2022 US Supreme Court decision that allowed states to enforce abortion bans. Over 20 states, including Texas, have since enacted such restrictions, while Democratic-led states like New York have introduced “shield laws” to protect abortion providers from out-of-state legal actions. New York law explicitly states that it will not cooperate with efforts by other states to prosecute, sue, or penalise medical professionals providing abortion care in compliance with New York regulations.
Carpenter also faces legal action in Louisiana, where she has been indicted by a grand jury for prescribing abortion medication to a teenager. This appears to be the first instance of a state criminally charging an out-of-state doctor for prescribing abortion drugs. However, New York Governor Kathy Hochul has stated that she will not sign the extradition order sent by Louisiana authorities seeking Carpenter’s arrest.
The lawsuit against Carpenter is believed to be the first of its kind, testing the limits of state authority over medical professionals operating across state lines. Texas prosecutors argue that Carpenter violated the state’s abortion laws and occupational licensing regulations by practicing medicine in Texas without a licence. The case arose after the patient Carpenter allegedly prescribed the medication to sought hospital care due to complications from the drugs, which were later discovered by her partner.
With medication abortion now accounting for more than half of all abortions in the US, legal battles over access and jurisdiction are expected to continue. This case could set a precedent for how states with opposing stances on abortion navigate conflicts over medical care and legal authority.
Melissa Enoch
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