The Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) issued a memorandum opinion for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) saying that U.S. states cannot restrict or penalize VA doctors for performing abortions “in a manner authorized by federal law.”
“States may not impose criminal or civil liability on VA employees—including doctors, nurses, and administrative staff—who provide or facilitate abortions or related services in a manner authorized by federal law, including VA’s rule,” Christopher Schroeder, the assistant attorney general for the OLC, wrote in the memorandum opinion (pdf) published on Sept. 21.
