SAN FRANCISCO An Idaho woman cannot be prosecuted for taking pills to end her pregnancy in violation of state abortion laws, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled Tuesday in a decision extending protections for women who seek unauthorized abortions.
Under Idaho law, abortions must be performed during the first trimester by a physician in a hospital, clinic or medical office. Unlike many state laws nationally, criminal penalties expressly apply to women who use abortifacients, such as RU-486, in addition to third parties, such as medical providers.