Most Catholic health institutions in Illinois temporarily protected from assisted suicide law

A temporary restraining order has protected several Catholic health organizations and individuals in Illinois from a new state law regarding physician assisted suicide. Judge Franklin Valderrama of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois granted the order on Oct. 5, following a request by the Thomas More Society.

The order allows the Illinois Catholic Health Association, the Catholic Medical Association, the Christian Medical and Dental Associations, the National Association of Catholic Nurses, and the Catholic Psychotherapy Association, Inc., along with two individuals, to continue practicing without being forced to refer terminally ill patients to other providers for lethal prescription drugs. The plaintiffs also avoid fines and sanctions, such as losing medical licenses, for describing the End-of-Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act as physician assisted suicide.

Under the state law, which took effect Sept. 12, medical professionals who object to assisted suicide requests must refer patients to other providers and ensure the rapid transfer of patient records. The law also prohibits listing suicide as the cause of death on death certificates.