In New York, a legal battle is unfolding as several pregnancy centers are suing Attorney General Letitia James, claiming that her actions are infringing on their constitutional rights. The centers, which are Christian-based and anti-abortion, argue that the Attorney General’s office is violating their First and 14th Amendment rights by attempting to restrict their promotion of abortion pill reversal methods.
This lawsuit was initiated by the Thomas More Society, a legal organization representing the coalition of pregnancy centers. The legal action follows a letter sent by Attorney General James on April 22, accusing various anti-abortion groups of making “repeated and persistent misleading statements and omissions.” These statements are related to the groups’ support and promotion of abortion pill reversal methods.
“Defendant James has no business butting into the intimate medical decision of an expectant mother, in consultation with the medical professional of her choice, to carry her pregnancy to term and save her unborn baby from the disastrous effects of mifepristone while there is still time to undo the effects of that powerful chemical,” the lawsuit states.
Abortion pill reversal is a controversial treatment aimed at halting the effects of mifepristone, the first of two drugs typically used in a medication-induced abortion. If a woman decides to reverse the abortion after taking mifepristone, anti-abortion doctors may administer bioidentical progesterone in an attempt to counteract the effects of the drug.
The lawsuit, spearheaded by the Thomas More Society, argues that Attorney General James is overstepping her boundaries by interfering with the private medical decisions between a patient and her doctor. According to the lawsuit, these actions constitute an undue restriction on the rights of groups opposing abortion, as they seek to support women who choose to continue their pregnancies after initially deciding on an abortion.
Among the plaintiffs in the case are prominent anti-abortion organizations such as Heartbeat International and CompassCare. These groups assert that the state’s actions are inconsistent, claiming New York protects abortion providers and the right to abortion up to birth, but not those who support women opting to sustain their pregnancies after initiating an abortion process.
Jor-El Godsey, president of Heartbeat International, expressed strong opposition to the Attorney General’s actions, criticizing the state for what he views as a double standard. He emphasized the importance of allowing women the choice to continue their pregnancies, suggesting that it is unjust to target groups that provide support for such decisions.
“Now they are targeting those who assist a woman in exercising her right to continue her own pregnancy,” Godsey added.
