Assemblymember Jonathan Jacobson (D-104) is throwing his support behind a New Paltz doctor and the Ulster County Clerk, following a stand-off across state lines meant to challenge abortion care.

Acting Ulster County Clerk Taylor Bruck refused to file a judgment from the Texas Attorney General against Dr. Margaret Carpenter of Nightingale Medical in New Paltz. Dr. Carpenter faces charges in Texas for providing abortion medication to a Texas patient following a televisit.

“Reproductive health care is health care. No doctor should be prosecuted for properly administering health care, no matter where the patient is located,” Jacobson said. “This is why I was proud to co-sponsor the law passed in 2023 protecting New York State doctors from prosecution for providing health services to out-of-state patients. Thank you to Acting Ulster County Clerk Taylor Bruck for upholding the law.”

Governor Hochul signed bill A1709 into law following the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022. It protects health care providers who prescribe abortion medication to patients outside of the state.

The Governor further strengthened this when she signed bill A2145 (also co-sponsored by Jacobson) into law last month, allowing prescription labels for abortion medication to include only the name of the prescribing practice, instead of the specific doctor.

In a statement, Bruck said, “In accordance with the New York State Shield Law, I have refused this filing and will refuse any similar filings that may come to our office.”

The doctor didn’t respond to the Texas charges or the $100,000+ fine, which triggered the Texas Attorney General’s summary judgment. She was also indicted by a Grand Jury in Louisiana for providing abortion medication to a patient in that state.

Medication abortion accounts for more than 60% of abortions in the U.S., and shield laws protect health care providers who prescribe abortion medication to patients across state lines. The Texas case could reach the U.S. Supreme Court, potentially threatening shield laws across the country.