Abortion: Frequently Asked Questions
Abortion: Frequently Asked Questions
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It shall be unlawful for a physician or other person to perform an abortion, with or without the consent of the pregnant female.
No person may knowingly administer to, prescribe for, or procure for, or sell to any pregnant woman any medicine, drug, or other substance with the specific intent of causing or abetting the termination of the life of an unborn human being. No person may knowingly use or employ any instrument or procedure upon a pregnant woman with the specific intent of causing or abetting the termination of the life of an unborn human being. (R.S. 40:1061)
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Yes. There are no exceptions for rape or incest, but the following exceptions do apply: (R.S. 14:87.1)
A medical procedure performed with the intention to save the life or preserve the health of an unborn child.
A medical procedure used to treat spontaneous miscarriage or to remove an ectopic pregnancy.
The use of methotrexate to treat an ectopic pregnancy.
The performance of a medical procedure necessary in good faith medical judgment or reasonable medical judgment to prevent the death or substantial risk of death to the pregnant woman due to a physical condition, or to prevent the serious, permanent impairment of a life-sustaining organ of a pregnant woman.
A nonviable pregnancy. Two qualified physicians must certify the medical judgment, and the procedure must be performed in a licensed ambulatory surgical center or hospital.
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Yes. The law does not prohibit people from traveling to another state for abortion care. Please go to “Where to get an abortion in another state”
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Check out this map by The Center for Reproductive Rights to see abortion laws by state.
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YES, but... not if they are a minor (under 18). The law does not prohibit people from traveling to another state for abortion care. However, unless you are a parent or legal guardian of a minor, you cannot drive them to another state without their parent/guardian’s permission. Find more information about minors and abortion at this link.
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YES. The law does not prohibit people from providing financial assistance to someone seeking abortion care
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YES. Sharing information is protected by the First Amendment. Find information about how to keep your research about abortion private at this link.
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YES. The law clearly states that it shall not apply to the sale, use, prescription, or administration of a contraceptive or an emergency contraceptive.
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NO
Abortion Pills: Frequently Asked Questions
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Abortion pills refer to the medications Mifepristone and Misoprostol, which have been included on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) List of Essential Medicines since 2005. Abortion with pills is well documented to be a safe and effective option, with complications occurring in less than one-percent of abortions.
The WHO created a protocol for how women may manage their abortion with misoprostol without direct provider supervision.
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NO. All abortions, surgical or medication, are prohibited in Louisiana except in limited circumstances.
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According to Louisiana law, it is a crime to deliver, dispense, distribute, or provide a pregnant woman with an abortion-inducing drug. The law prohibits abortion-inducing drugs from being sold, prescribed, dispensed, distributed, or delivered in Louisiana.
The U.S. Justice Department has issued a legal opinion that the U.S. Postal Service may deliver abortion pills to people in states that have banned or sharply restricted the procedure. The Justice Department’s opinion provides legal protection to providers who mail mifepristone and misoprostol. But it would not protect a person who receives the pills by mail and uses them to terminate a pregnancy in a state where it is illegal.
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NO, but…
It is not illegal for a pregnant person to possess for her own consumption or consume an abortion-inducing drug. However, the use of medication to terminate a pregnancy could be criminalized using other criminal statutes.
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The Food and Drug Administration recently made a regulatory change allowing retail pharmacies to dispense the pills. However, this only applies in states where abortion is legal, not in Louisiana.
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YES. Doctors and others can face up to 5 years in prison if convicted.
PLEASE NOTE
The regulations on abortion pills are constantly changing, and these laws are selectively enforced in a way that targets systemically oppressed people. But regardless of what happens in the courts, you don’t need anyone’s permission to end your pregnancy with abortion pills.
If a person is targeted by law enforcement for ending their own pregnancy, the Repro Legal Defense Fund provides financial support for posting bail and securing defense counsel.
For more information about abortion with pills, check out: