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.
Schroeder also wrote in his opinion that the VA’s rule “is a lawful exercise of VA’s authority,” affirming an interim final rule the VA had submitted to the Federal Register on Sept. 1….