Shield Laws, Telemedicine, and the Fight for Abortion Freedom - Episode 24

Republican officials are trying to enforce their abortion bans across state lines. Democratic governors and attorneys general are using shield laws to fight back, and protect providers and their patients. This is why the governors and attorneys general we elect matter more than ever. 

Here’s how a shield law looks in practice.

In December 2024, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued a New York provider for prescribing telemedicine abortion care to a patient in Texas. After a Texas court ordered the provider to pay more than $113,000, Paxton tried to get New York to enforce the judgment.

New York refused. An Ulster County clerk blocked the filing under the state's shield law, and Attorney General Letitia James stepped in to defend the law and the provider.

Then, Louisiana officials indicted the same doctor and sought to have her extradited. Again, New York refused. This time, New York Governor Kathy Hochul stepped in and refused to turn over the provider.

In this episode of My Body. My Pod, human rights lawyer and Reproductive Futures founder and CEO Julie F. Kay joins Mini Timmaraju to discuss the shield laws at the center of this fight, the growing attacks on telemedicine abortion, and the importance of the midterm elections.

Mini and Julie Dig into:

How telemedicine shield laws protect providers caring for patients “regardless of patient location”
How abusive ex-partners and anti-abortion lawyers are weaponizing bounty hunter laws to intimidate and exert control over pregnant people
Why anti-abortion forces are targeting mifepristone and telemedicine abortion
How Democratic governors and attorneys general are blocking attempts to export abortion bans
Why elections and court reform are critical to protecting and expanding abortion access

Explore more episode resources: reproforall.org/podEP24

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