Louisiana lawmakers have passed a bill that criminalizes the possession of abortion pills without a prescription, with penalties of up to 10 years in prison. The legislation, now awaiting the signature of Governor Jeff Landry, exempts pregnant women using the medication for themselves but penalizes assistance from others.
The bill is seen as a potential model for states with abortion bans, addressing the issue of residents obtaining abortion pills out-of-state or online. The legislation follows a rise in medication abortions, which account for nearly two-thirds of the more than 1 million abortions performed in the U.S. in 2023, according to the Guttmacher Institute.
In Louisiana, abortion is permitted only to save the mother’s life or in cases of lethal fetal anomaly. The new legislation requires doctors to obtain a special license to prescribe abortion drugs, which would be tracked in a state database.
The bill was introduced by GOP state Sen. Thomas Pressly after a personal incident involving his sister. It originally aimed to create a crime for administering abortion pills without consent but was amended to address the distribution of such drugs.
The amendment has caused concern among over 200 Louisiana doctors, who argue it could create confusion and negatively impact patient care. Misoprostol, one of the drugs in question, is commonly used for various medical procedures beyond abortion.
Advocates for the bill, including Pressly and Louisiana Right to Life, assert that it will prevent illegal distribution and misuse of abortion pills, while still allowing their lawful dispensation by doctors. The legislation’s passage marks a significant development in the ongoing debate over abortion rights and access in the United States.
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