New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed a bill to protect the identities of physicians who prescribe abortion-inducing medications.
The law, signed Feb. 3, took effect immediately and allows physicians who prescribe abortion pills to request that the dispensing pharmacy print the name of their practice on the labels, rather than their own name, according to a Feb. 3 news release.
"Reproductive freedom will always be protected in the state of New York — and I'll never back down from this fight," Ms. Hochul said in the release. "I'm taking action to strengthen protections for health care professionals and their patients, ensuring New York is a safe haven for anyone providing or receiving reproductive care."
The announcement comes after a New York physician was indicted by a grand jury in Louisiana for providing abortion pills to a minor in the state via telemedicine. The physician also faces a civil lawsuit in Texas for providing abortion telemedicine services to a resident in the state.
The new state shield law aims to prevent future criminal and civil action against physicians and other medical professionals in the state who provide abortion care.
New York is one of eight states that prohibits authorities from cooperating with out-of-state prosecutions against abortion providers, according to Courthouse News Service.