Hochul Signs Rejection Of Extradition Request For NY Abortion Doctor

NEW YORK — Gov. Kathy Hochul took a firm stand on reproductive freedom Thursday as she signed her rejection of an extradition request sent by Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry after a New York doctor prescribed what she said was "safe abortion medication."

Last week, Hochul said, she received a letter from Landry asking her to "extradite a New York doctor who provided legal, life-saving, FDA approved abortion medication to a patient. This doctor, who now faces a felony charge, was simply doing her job, following both her medical oath and New York state law."

Prescribing safe abortion medication is legal under the laws of New York State and its reproductive health laws, "which began enacting even before the overturning of Roe v. Wade, and which I have since fortified by signing our shield laws, explicitly prohibiting me, or any future Governor, from honoring this request," Hochul said.

She added: "New York is where the women's movement was born. New York is where abortion was legalized years before Roe v. Wade. New York is where Lady Liberty stands tall as a beacon of hope for those seeking freedom. And just as doctors swear to do no harm, I took an oath under God to protect New Yorkers. Today? I reaffirm that oath by sending the letter back to Governor Landry, making it crystal clear — I will not be signing this extradition request. Not now, not ever."

And, Hochul concluded: "As I said before, New York is steadfast in ensuring that no medical practitioners are penalized for providing reproductive health care as permitted by our state laws. In accordance with the laws of this state, I do not recognize this request and will sign my rejection. That's what we stand for. That's who we are as New Yorkers."

Last Thursday, Hochul declared that out-of-state extradition warrants that seek to punish New York doctors for practicing legal reproductive care are unenforceable.

"At 1:41 p.m. today, this office received an order of extradition for a New York doctor, an abortion provider, who lives upstate," the governor said in an ad hoc press address. "She has been accused of participating in a murder, and they're saying that she is to be charged with the crime of a criminal abortion by means of abortion-inducing drugs. This is a very serious offense."
See Also:

• NY Doctor Indicted By Louisiana For Prescribing Abortion Pill
• Arrest Warrant Issued For NY Doctor Who Prescribed Abortion Bill
• State Of Texas Suing Hudson Valley Doc For Prescribing Abortion Pill

An arrest warrant was issued earlier this month for a Hudson Valley doctor indicted in January by a Louisiana grand jury on charges of prescribing abortion pills online to a pregnant minor in the state.

Grand jurors at the District Court for the Parish of West Baton Rouge issued the indictment against Ulster County physician Margaret Carpenter, charging her with criminal abortion by means of abortion-inducing drugs, a felony in Louisiana.

The mother of the patient, who was also indicted, has already turned herself in to authorities, District Attorney Tony Clayton told the Associated Press.

"Louisiana has changed their laws, but that has no bearing on the laws here in the State of New York. Doctors take an oath to protect their patients," Hochul said. "I took an oath of office to protect all New Yorkers, and I will uphold not only our constitution, but also the laws of our land. And I will not be signing an extradition order that came from the Governor of Louisiana. I want to be very clear on that."

The governor, who has previously condemned the prosecution of the New York physician, said that steps have been taken to protect the doctor, who has violated no laws in her home state.

"We have sent out a law enforcement notice that certain out-of-state warrants are not enforceable in the State of New York," Hochul declared. "So anyone who possibly pulls over an individual or is involved in a situation for a doctor who is protected under our laws is told, 'You are not to cooperate and enforce this extradition.' So I want to be clear that we have taken all the steps we can to protect this doctor to continue allowing her to continue practicing what we believe is reproductive health, which I believe is an essential right."