Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Idaho Enacts 'Abortion Trafficking' Law For Minors, The First Of Its Kind In US
The New York Times: Idaho Bans Out-Of-State Abortions For Minors Without Parent’s Consent
Idaho on Wednesday became the first state to make it illegal for minors to leave the state to get an abortion without parental consent. The new law, signed by Gov. Brad Little, would create a crime called “abortion trafficking,” carrying a penalty of two to five years in jail for anyone who helps a person under 18 get an abortion or obtain abortion pills without permission from a parent or guardian. (Chen, 4/5)
AP: Idaho Governor Signs 'Abortion Trafficking' Bill Into Law
The law is the first of its kind in the U.S. and creates a new crime of “ abortion trafficking,” barring adults from obtaining abortion pills for a minor or “recruiting, harboring or transporting the pregnant minor” without the consent of the minor’s parent or guardian. Anyone convicted of breaking the law will face two to five years in prison and could also be sued by the minor’s parent or guardian. Parents who raped their child will not be able to sue, though the criminal penalties for anyone who helped the minor obtain an abortion will remain in effect. (4/6)
In related news from Idaho —
The Hill: ACLU, Planned Parenthood Sue Idaho AG Over Out-Of-State Abortion Referral Ban
Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union on Wednesday separately announced they’re filing suit against the Idaho attorney general over an interpretation of state law that would punish medical professionals who refer patients out-of-state for abortion services. Idaho’s attorney general Raúl Labrador issued a legal opinion last week that said state law prohibits medical providers from referring a patient across state lines to undergo an abortion, or from prescribing abortion pills for a patient to pick up across state lines. (Mueller, 4/5)
Axios: Abortion Rights: Free Speech Battle Looms In Idaho With ACLU Lawsuit
Idaho could be at the center of a free speech battle over abortion care. Driving the news: The American Civil Liberties Union announced Wednesday that it's suing the Idaho Attorney General for "threatening health care providers who exercise their First Amendment right to give patients information about out-of-state abortion care." (Habeshian and Gonzalez, 4/5)
KTVB.com: ‘I Don’t Wish This On Anyone:’ Idaho Couple Travels Out Of State For Abortion
21 weeks into pregnancy, Kayla and James Smith discovered their son had serious heart defects, other fetal abnormalities. Doctors said they wouldn't be operable. (Davis, 4/5)
