Bill > HB575

This bill amends Louisiana law to establish a comprehensive legal framework for civil liability related to abortions, creating new grounds for legal action against individuals or entities involved in performing or facilitating abortions. The bill allows a woman to sue for damages within five years of discovering harm, with a ten-year absolute time limit from the date of the abortion. It defines key terms such as "substantially facilitates" to include administering, prescribing, or selling abortion-inducing drugs, while explicitly excluding legitimate medical treatments. The legislation provides for multiple types of damages, including statutory damages of at least $100,000, special and general damages, and exemplary (punitive) damages in cases of intentional or reckless actions. The bill specifically prohibits lawsuits against the woman who received the abortion, licensed healthcare providers acting within their professional scope, and licensed pharmacists. To protect privacy, the bill allows plaintiffs to use pseudonyms and seek protective orders. Notably, the bill creates a rebuttable presumption that medical malpractice laws apply to licensed healthcare providers and is officially named the "Justice for Victims of Abortion Drug Dealers Act," reflecting its intent to create legal recourse against those involved in providing abortions.