Under a new law, as signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, doctors in California are now authorized to mail abortion medication anonymously. This initiative is primarily designed to shield healthcare providers and patients from potential legal or disciplinary backlashes, according to the governor’s office.
The Democratic administration’s push to secure abortion access further guarantees that drugs such as mifepristone remain available in California, even if the FDA withdraws its approval. This legislation forms part of a broader assembly of protective measures set in place by Governor Newsom, who is often speculated to harbor presidential ambitions. These laws serve to cement California’s reputation as a bastion for reproductive rights and counteract what Newsom identifies as anti-abortion overreach from Texas and other conservative states.
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Expanding on the news, Governor Newsom stated, “California stands for a woman’s right to choose.” He went on to express his pride in signing the bills that aim to safeguard essential healthcare access and shield both patients and healthcare providers amidst escalating attacks on reproductive freedom.
It’s important to note that several states have recently made it easier to challenge those who bypass laws to gain access to abortion pills. Texas, for instance, is now permitting private citizens to bring lawsuits against anyone involved in the manufacturing, shipping, or supply of abortion drugs, with penalties reaching up to $100,000. The state’s Attorney General, Ken Paxton, has been proactive in this regard, issuing cease-and-desist orders to multiple organizations selling and shipping abortion-inducing drugs into Texas.
One of the significant figures behind this California legislation is Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry. Seeing this bill as a direct response to the Texas lawsuit, she states, “I appreciate the partnership with the Administration as we fight for the sanctity of the patient-health professional relationship, and the safety of Californians and their health providers.”
The FDA first approved mifepristone for abortions up to seven weeks of pregnancy in 2000. However, in subsequent years, a series of changes were made, including increasing the gestational age at which mifepristone can be used to up to 10 weeks of pregnancy, and allowing the medication to be mailed to patients, among others.
