Justice for Victims of Abortion Drug Dealers Act

Justice for Victims of Abortion Drug Dealers Act
With the passage of HB 575, women hurt by the abortion industry have an expanded right to file suit against abortion businesses recklessly selling the abortion pill.

The Justice for Victims of Abortion Drug Dealers Act (HB 575) by Representative Lauren Ventrella and Representative Julie Emerson has passed the 2025 Louisiana Legislative Session. HB 575 updates current Louisiana law that already provides the ability for a person hurt by abortion to file suit against the abortion industry to account for out-of-state drug dealers who illegally provide abortion pills in this state.

Factsheet on HB 575 (coming soon)

Why Does Louisiana Need HB 575?

Abortion businesses and doctors not licensed to practice medicine in LA are recklessly & illegally selling abortion pills online and on the streets without any safety precautions.
Liberal states like New York are shielding these “abortion drug dealers” from the Louisiana justice system. They are abusing Louisiana law and getting away with it.
Citizens hurt by abortion need to be able to file a lawsuit to hold these abortion businesses accountable.

The abortion industry has gone to the extreme to continue their profitable scheme of abortion-by-mail, but they do not want to be held accountable for the serious physical and emotional harm they are causing. They lie to women about the risks, pressure women into staying silent by making them afraid of being arrested, and create unconstitutional legal barriers to keep women from holding them accountable.

There is no other industry comparable to this type of deception for the sake of profit. And while the abortion industry celebrates, Louisiana women and families are left forever harmed. This law will provide those women an avenue for justice.

How Does HB 575 Help Women Hurt By Abortion?

This law helps women who were hurt by abortion, especially from abortion pills, by making it easier for them to take legal action against the people who hurt them.

Covers more types of abortion: It includes harm from abortion pills, not just surgery. This matters because most abortions today use pills.
Gives more time to file a lawsuit: Women will now have up to five years to file a lawsuit. Right now, this law only gives them three years, and most other Louisiana laws give just one or two years. This is important because the harm from abortion isn’t always clear right away.
Provides at least $100,000 in damages: If someone gives a woman abortion pills to cause an abortion, they can be forced to pay at least $100,000. This is helpful because, unlike other injuries, it can be hard to prove exactly how much damage the pills caused.
Covers extra harm if proven: If a woman has complications after taking the pill, she can be compensated for those costs, too. If the person who gave her the pills acted dangerously or gave them to a minor, that person may have to pay the woman even more money.
Keeps her identity private: Women can sue using a pseudonym or initials so their privacy is protected.

Know Your Rights If You've Had an Abortion

You May Now Have the Right to Sue for Harm Caused by Abortion Pills: This law recognizes that harm can come not only from surgical abortions but also from chemical abortions (abortion pills). Since abortion-inducing drugs account for the majority of abortions today, this expansion is significant.
Extended Time to File a Lawsuit: You now have up to five years to file a lawsuit — much longer than the standard one- to two-year window for most personal injury cases in Louisiana. This gives women more time to recognize the physical or psychological impact and take appropriate legal action.
Financial Compensation in Certain Cases: The law provides statutory damages of at least $100,000 when abortion-inducing drugs are provided for the purpose of causing an abortion. This means you may be entitled to compensation even if it’s difficult to prove the exact amount of harm caused.
Additional Compensation for Medical or Emotional Harm: If you experienced complications or needed medical treatment after taking abortion pills, you may be able to recover for those costs. If it’s proven that the provider acted recklessly — such as giving pills to a minor or ignoring medical risks — additional damages may be awarded.
Privacy is Protected: You can file a lawsuit under a pseudonym to keep your identity private and protect your dignity throughout the legal process.

Addressing Myths

Can Women Be Sued Under HB 575?

The woman who has the abortion cannot be sued under this law. This is clearly stated in the law. While other people are harmed by the loss of an unborn child, this law only allows the woman herself to bring a lawsuit against the abortion industry for the harm they caused.

Will Medical Records Be Released Without a Woman's Consent?

The only reason a woman’s medical records would be involved is if a woman chooses to bring a lawsuit and uses her medical records to prove her case. Additionally, the law allows a woman to sue under a pseudonym and to request other protective orders to keep her personal information private.

Will HB 575 Prohibit Physicians from Treating for Miscarriage?

This law only applies to performing or substantially facilitating an elective abortion, which is not what miscarriage management is. Additionally, the law clearly states that Louisiana healthcare providers cannot be sued under this law. So not only can a doctor not be sued under this law for providing lawful healthcare, but a Louisiana-licensed healthcare provider cannot be sued under this law at all.

Can Citizens File Frivolous Lawsuits?

The law is clearly limited to performing or substantially facilitating an abortion as defined in Louisiana’s criminal code (R.S. 14:87.1), which explains in detail what is and is not considered an abortion under Louisiana law. If the action is not related to a prohibited abortion, this law does not apply.

Justice for Victims