'Shameful regression of women’s rights' reversed after New York governor protects abortion pill: report

Doctors who offer abortion pills to patients in the state of New York are now protected under a new bill Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul signed Friday, CNN reports.

According toThe New York Times, state lawmakers approved the legislation earlier this week, which "stipulates that New York courts and officials will not cooperate if a state with an abortion ban tries to prosecute, sue or otherwise penalize a New York health care provider who offers abortion via telemedicine to a patient in that state, as long as the provider complies with New York law."

Hochul's signing comes one day after a Wyoming judge temporarily blocked a law that would have banned the use of abortion pills in the coming days, in a state where pills "are now used in over half of abortions."

READ MORE: Abortion pill ban blocked by Wyoming judge at request of 'overwhelming majority': report

CNN reports Wyoming's abortion pill use reflects the country's as a whole, citing "as of 2020, more than half of US abortions were conducted using medication."

In a press release Friday, Hochul said, "We are witnessing a shameful regression of women's rights in this country as abortion access is restricted in states across the nation," adding, according to the report, "the law will ensure that more women will be able to access reproductive health care."

Bill sponsor, Assemblymember Karines Reyes, who is also a registered nurse, said she is "proud to sponsor this critical piece of legislation to fully protect abortion providers using telemedicine."

READ MORE: The abortion pill, abortion bans and Republican policies that kill

CNN's full report is available at this link. The New York Times' report is here.