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.
