CHA amicus curiae brief on physician-assisted suicide. Catholic Health Association

The Catholic Health Association of the United States submitted an amicus curiae brief to the U.S. Supreme Court last October in support of petitioners Dennis C. Vacco, attorney general of the state of New York (in the case Vacco v. Timothy E. Quill, MD, et at.), and the state of Washington (in State of Washington, et al. v. Harold Glucksberg, MD, et al.). The brief was filed as the Court agreed to hear arguments on the issue of whether terminally ill people have a constitutionally protected right to physician-assisted suicide. In January 1997 the petitioners went before the Court to argue appeals to federal appellate rulings that struck down New York and Washington laws making physician-assisted suicide a crime. The Court is expected to rule in late June.