A New York doctor is facing criminal charges for allegedly providing abortion medication to the mother of a pregnant minor in Louisiana, where abortion is banned under most circumstances. Dr. Margaret D. Carpenter, based in New Paltz, New York, and her practice, Nightingale Medical, were named in an indictment filed by West Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Tony Clayton. According to court documents, the indictment states that Carpenter knowingly caused an abortion by delivering, dispensing, or providing an abortion-inducing drug to a pregnant woman on or around April 5, 2024. The indictment claims that Carpenter’s actions were against Louisiana law.
The case involves a woman who allegedly ordered the medication for her pregnant minor daughter. While the mother was named in the indictment, she was not charged. The charges stem from Louisiana’s strict abortion ban, which went into effect after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, ending nearly five decades of federal abortion rights. Louisiana, like several other states, had a “trigger law” that automatically banned abortion after the Supreme Court’s decision.
New York Attorney General Letitia James expressed strong support for Carpenter, condemning the indictment as a “cowardly attempt” by Louisiana to target out-of-state providers. In a statement, James described the criminalization of abortion care as an attack on bodily autonomy and reproductive rights. She emphasized that abortion care, including medication abortion, is safe and necessary, and pledged that New York would ensure it remains accessible for those who need it.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul also criticized the indictment, calling it “outrageous” and reaffirming that New York would not extradite Carpenter to Louisiana. She stated that the Empire State would remain a “safe harbor” for abortion providers and vowed to protect Carpenter from prosecution, describing the case as part of a larger effort by Republican lawmakers to enforce a national abortion ban. Hochul reiterated her commitment to safeguarding reproductive freedom and protecting doctors who provide essential care.
In contrast, Louisiana District Attorney Tony Clayton defended the indictment, claiming that the girl at the center of the case had been excited about her pregnancy and had planned a gender reveal party. Clayton also stated that the girl experienced complications after taking the abortion pill alone, resulting in an emergency medical situation. He claimed that the girl called 911, and an ambulance rushed her to the hospital, where her life was saved. Despite the well-documented safety of mifepristone, Clayton compared the drug to dangerous substances like fentanyl and opioids, which have caused widespread harm and death.
Clayton criticized Carpenter for allegedly shipping the abortion medication to Louisiana and argued that it was equivalent to distributing illicit drugs. He stressed that his office would pursue legal action against individuals involved in such cases, claiming that the case was not about reproductive health care, but about coercing someone into an abortion.
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill also backed the prosecution, stating that sending abortion pills into the state is illegal and that coercing someone into an abortion is a violation of the law. Murrill’s office emphasized that the case centers on the issue of coercion, rather than the right to abortion care.
This case is not the only legal challenge Carpenter faces. She is also the subject of a lawsuit in Texas, where authorities allege that she provided abortion medication to patients in violation of that state’s abortion restrictions. Despite these legal battles, New York officials have made it clear that they will continue to protect providers who assist patients in accessing abortion care, including medication abortion.
