A Christian physician together with the Christian Medical & Dental Associations (CMDA) is suing the state of New Mexico for enacting a regulation that forces medical doctors to facilitate physician-assisted suicides in ways in which violate their non secular convictions {and professional} ethics.

The federal lawsuit was filed on their behalf by attorneys with Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a nonprofit non secular rights regulation agency. 

“New Mexico is unlawfully compelling physicians to talk a sure message about assisted suicide, even when they object for causes of conscience or religion,” mentioned ADF Senior Counsel Mark Lippelmann. “The Christian medical doctors we signify imagine that each life is sacred and stuffed with inherent worth and that assisted suicide ends an harmless human life with out justification. The federal government shouldn’t drive medical doctors to give up their non secular, ethical, and moral convictions.”

The criticism towards the state explains that regardless of historic condemnations of assisted suicide, New Mexico enacted the Elizabeth Whitefield Finish-of-Life Choices Act in 2021. The regulation nonetheless requires physicians who’re conscientious objectors to facilitate suicide by informing sufferers about assisted suicide and referring sufferers to physicians and organizations who will take part in ending their lives. 

If physicians decline to take part based mostly on their non secular beliefs or skilled ethics, they are often punished by dealing with substantial prison, civil, administrative, {and professional} legal responsibility. Additionally they danger shedding their medical licenses.

The plaintiffs within the case embody the CMDA, a nationwide affiliation of conscientious Christian healthcare professionals whose private non secular convictions {and professional} ethics oppose the follow of assisted suicide. Dr. Mark Lacy, a member of CMDA, is a licensed doctor in New Mexico who straight joined the lawsuit.

ADF attorneys filed the case, Lacy v. Balderas, within the U.S. District Courtroom for the District of New Mexico.

Courtroom Already Dominated Towards California in Related Case

Again in September, a federal courtroom dominated California regulation violated the First Modification rights of medical professionals by requiring them to take part in physician-assisted suicide towards their non secular convictions {and professional} ethics. 

California first legalized physician-assisted suicide in 2015 with the passage of the controversial Finish of Life Choice Act or SB 380. It was signed into regulation by then-Governor Jerry Brown (D). The regulation permits an grownup recognized with a terminal illness, who meets sure {qualifications}, to request aid-in-dying medication from their attending doctor. 

ADF attorneys representing a health care provider and the CMDA requested the U.S. District Courtroom for the Central District of California to halt enforcement, whereas their lawsuit proceeds, of the state regulation that forces physicians to take part in assisted suicide.

The courtroom agreed. 

The Christian physicians “have demonstrated they’re more likely to endure a violation of a constitutional proper absent an injunction…,” the courtroom wrote in its opinion in Christian Medical & Dental Associations v. Bonta. “The final word end result of this requirement is that non-participating suppliers are compelled to take part within the Act by {even its} documentation requirement, regardless of their objections to assisted suicide.”

“Our shoppers search to stay out their religion of their medical follow, and that features valuing each human life entrusted to their care. Taking part in physician-assisted suicide very clearly would violate their consciences,” mentioned ADF Senior Counsel Kevin Theriot in a press launch on the time.  

Theriot argued earlier than the courtroom on behalf of his shoppers who challenged the California regulation. 

“We’re happy the courtroom adopted the U.S. Supreme Courtroom’s choice in NIFLA v. Becerra that clarified First Modification protections prolong to non secular medical professionals,” he mentioned. 

***Please join CBN Newsletters and obtain the CBN Information app to make sure you preserve receiving the most recent information from a distinctly Christian perspective.***