The State of Texas has filed a lawsuit against Dr. Margaret Daley Carpenter, a New York-based physician, accusing her of illegally prescribing abortion pills to Texas residents via telehealth services.
The lawsuit, filed in Collin County District Court, seeks to bar Dr. Carpenter from further violations of Texas law and demands civil penalties of at least $100,000 for each alleged infraction.
According to the suit, Dr. Carpenter, who is licensed to practice medicine in New York but not in Texas, provided abortion-inducing medications to a 20-year-old Collin County woman.
The medications, mifepristone and misoprostol, were allegedly prescribed via telemedicine without the in-person examination required under Texas law.
The plaintiff, identified in court documents as the State of Texas, contends that this action violates multiple state statutes, including laws prohibiting non-Texas-licensed physicians from practicing medicine in the state and the distribution of abortion pills via mail or courier services.
Allegations in the Case
Texas law stipulates that only licensed Texas physicians can prescribe abortion-inducing drugs, and they must perform an in-person examination before doing so. Additionally, the state bans the mailing or delivery of such drugs. Dr. Carpenter, the lawsuit claims, knowingly circumvented these laws, putting Texas women at risk and violating state sovereignty.
READ: Tech Giants Meta, Amazon, Google, And OpenAI Cozy Up To Trump Admin In Rightward Shift
The case centers around a Collin County woman who reportedly used the prescribed medications in mid-2024. According to the suit, the woman later experienced complications, including severe hemorrhaging, and sought emergency medical care. The biological father of the unborn child allegedly discovered the abortion-inducing drugs in the woman’s home, prompting the legal action.
In a statement, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton criticized Dr. Carpenter’s alleged actions, stating, “This is a blatant violation of Texas law. We are committed to holding individuals accountable for endangering women and unborn children by ignoring our state’s legal framework.”
The lawsuit also points to Dr. Carpenter’s role as co-director of the Abortion Coalition for Telemedicine (ACT), which advocates for telemedicine abortion access nationwide. The suit alleges that organizations like ACT actively promote practices that contravene Texas law.
READ: Virginia Governor Youngkin Pushes For Sanctuary City Ban Amid Migrant Crisis
Legal Demands
The State of Texas is seeking the following:
- A Temporary and Permanent Injunction: To stop Dr. Carpenter from prescribing abortion-inducing drugs to Texas residents or engaging in any telehealth services with Texas patients.
- Civil Penalties: A minimum of $100,000 for each violation of Texas law.
- Reimbursement of Legal Fees: Including attorney’s fees and other investigative costs associated with the case.
This lawsuit represents the latest escalation in the legal battles over abortion access following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Texas has implemented some of the nation’s strictest abortion laws, and this case signals the state’s intention to enforce those laws aggressively, even against out-of-state providers.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.