Governor Kathy Hochul on Monday signed legislation protecting abortion patients and medical professionals in New York from legal retaliation by other states that restrict the procedure.
About 26 states are poised to ban abortion if the US Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, the 1973 case that legalized it nationwide.
A draft opinion leaked by the court showed that its conservative majority intends to eliminate the constitutional right to abortion. A final decision in this case is expected soon.
New York legislation protects professionals and patients from a wave of new anti-abortion laws in some conservative states, led by Texas, that allow citizens to sue anyone who aids or abets an abortion.
The law also allows healthcare professionals and clinics and patients to file complaints against anyone who tries to accuse them.
The proposal further prohibits state courts from cooperating in civil or criminal lawsuits arising from abortions that legally occur in New York, and prohibits law enforcement from cooperating with state anti-abortion investigations of abortions in New York.
The measures take effect immediately.
“Today, we are taking steps to protect our service professionals from retaliatory actions by anti-abortion states and ensure that New York is always a safe haven for those seeking reproductive health care,” Democrat Hochul said in a statement.
New York, which has long been a haven for abortion access, is one of several liberal states set to become a more frequent destination for patients seeking out-of-state abortions as more states ban the practice.
It is one of several Democrat-led states that have moved to protect access to abortion this year, while conservative states rushed to curb it.
Source: CNN Brasil
