Court Blocks Illinois Assisted-Suicide Mandate for Catholic and Christian Health Providers
A federal judge expanded an injunction, shielding Catholic and Christian health entities in Illinois from being forced to comply with the new assisted-suicide law.
In a recent decision, U.S. District Judge Franklin Valderrama extended an earlier injunction that barred Illinois authorities from applying the End-of-Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act and sections of the Health Care Right of Conscience Act to additional religious health providers. The expanded order now protects all members of the Illinois Catholic Health Association, the Christian Medical & Dental Associations, the National Association of Catholic Nurses and the Catholic Psychotherapy Association, following an amended complaint filed on September 10.
Plaintiffs—including Bishop Thomas Paprocki, the Lutheran Care Center and several Catholic physicians—are represented by the Thomas More Society, which says the law would force them to promote or refer patients for assisted suicide, violating their faith and constitutional rights. The court’s stay remains in effect pending a ruling on a preliminary injunction request, while other challenges to the law continue in the state. The plaintiffs face possible fines, loss of licenses or criminal prosecution if the statutes are enforced.
Why it matters
The ruling protects religious health providers from state mandates that would require them to assist or refer patients for assisted suicide, preserving their conscience rights.
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