Elham Asaad Buaras
Four Muslim doctors in the US state of Illinois have secured temporary legal protection from requirements under a new assisted-suicide law, after arguing that participation would violate their religious beliefs.
A federal judge issued the order on September 29, following an agreement with the state, after Dr Akbar Ali, Dr Asim Babar, Dr Omar Hussain and Dr Umar Shakur challenged Illinois’s End-of-Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act, which came into force on September 12.
The doctors filed their lawsuit on September 16, arguing that provisions requiring healthcare professionals who object to assisted dying to inform patients about the option and refer them elsewhere conflict with their Islamic beliefs.
The law allows eligible terminally ill adults to obtain medication to end their lives, provided it is prescribed by a doctor and self-administered by the patient.
Although doctors are not required to prescribe the medication, those who refuse a request must inform the patient that they will not provide the service and refer them to another healthcare professional or organisation that can assist them.
The four doctors argue that these requirements could compel them to facilitate a process prohibited by their faith. Their lawsuit seeks protection from penalties for refusing to participate in the assisted-suicide process.
The temporary order prevents Illinois from enforcing the challenged requirements against the doctors while the case proceeds. It does not overturn the law or grant them a permanent exemption.
Mark Rienzi, president of the US religious-liberty organisation Becket and lead lawyer for the doctors, said: “Doctors shouldn’t need a federal court order to refuse to help patients die. No patient should have to hear the government’s sales pitch for suicide in the exam room. Illinois was right to come to an agreement. We look forward to defeating this mandate permanently.”
The case comes as assisted dying remains unlawful in England and Wales, where MPs rejected the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill on September 11 by 286 votes to 270.
The bill would have allowed mentally competent adults with a terminal illness and an expected life expectancy of six months or less to request assistance to end their lives, subject to safeguards. It also included provisions concerning healthcare professionals who objected to participation on religious or ethical grounds.
The Illinois case remains ongoing, with the doctors seeking longer-term protection for their religious objections.
