Summary
California is considering a bill that would let healthcare providers prescribe abortion drugs without their names on the prescription label. This measure aims to protect doctors involved in telehealth abortions, especially in response to legal challenges from states with abortion bans. Other states, such as New York and Massachusetts, have already enacted similar laws.
Key Facts
- California is looking at a bill to let doctors prescribe abortion drugs anonymously.
- The two-drug combination, mifepristone and misoprostol, is used in over 60% of U.S. abortions.
- About 25% of abortions are done via telehealth, according to the Society of Family Planning.
- Shield laws protect California doctors from legal actions from states that ban abortions.
- Approximately 12,000 abortions per month occur under these shield laws.
- Five other states — New York, Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, and Washington — have passed similar laws.
- Legal challenges in states like New York and California have tested these shield laws' effectiveness.
- Critics argue that these laws prevent other states from enforcing their abortion restrictions.
