bay area Doctor Targeted in Lawsuit by Anti-abortionโ Advocate
SACRAMENTO – A Bay Area physician is at the center of a lawsuitโฃ broughtโฃ by an influential anti-abortion lawyer, raising concerns about โstates attempting to punish individuals for โproviding or assisting with abortions across state lines. The legal action comes as California lawmakers bolster “shield laws” designed to protect abortion access and patient privacy in response to increasing restrictions elsewhere.
The lawsuit, filed by Texas attorney Jonathan Mitchell, targets Dr. Sineโ Qua Coeytaux, alleging she violated Texas law by providing abortion medication to residents ofโข the state. Mitchell, known for his role in crafting the Texas Heartbeat Act, is attempting to enforce Texas โlaw outside of its โborders, a tactic prompting a strong response from California โฃofficials.
“Shield laws like the ones passed in California respond to states extending thier abortionโ punishments outside their borders,” said California attorney General Rob bonta.”It kind โฃof seems like Texas wants it both ways.”
California legislators anticipated potential legal challenges and have โขmoved to โขstrengthen protections for abortion providers and patients. Assembly Member Maggy Krell, D-Sacramento, introduced Assembly bill 54, sponsored by โBonta, to safeguard access to mifepristone against a potential revival of โthe Comstock Act, an 1873 law that โคcould be usedโฃ to restrict the mailing of abortion medication. AB54 reaffirms the legality of mailing, transporting, receiving, or taking abortion โขmedication approved in California. While the bill passed the Assembly withโข broad support, it was held inโ the Senate and โconverted into a two-year bill.
Related legislation, Assembly Bill 260 from Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, โD-Winters, expands these shield law protections.AB260 allows abortion medication to be dispensed without disclosing facts about the pharmacists or prescribers and requires valid subpoenas from law enforcement seeking access to pharmacist logs.
The lawsuit against Coeytaux reportedly originated from a $150 Venmo receipt.
“All of this is pretty dynamic,”โ said Krell, a former chief legal counsel at Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California.”It’s aโค war to control women and their bodies.”
Though, legal scholar Josh โฃHearron cautioned against framing the situation as an immediate showdown between california and Texas. “Only if (Mitchell) is able to run the gauntlet and get relief on his claims legally and factuallyโ would the question of California shield law even come up,” Hearron said. “I know everyone wants to view this as โa โbattle between California and โขTexas. And maybe it’ll get there, but โฃwe’re not โคthere anytime soon.”
