Catholic Providers Sue New York Over Medically Assisted Suicide Law

Catholic healthcare providers filed a federal lawsuit to block New York’s medically assisted suicide law.

On July 17, 2026, a coalition of Catholic healthcare providers, including the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm, the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne, the Missionary Sisters of St. Benedict, and the Little Sisters of the Poor, filed a federal lawsuit challenging New York State's Medical Aid in Dying Act.

The law, signed by Governor Kathy Hochul in February 2026 and effective August 5, permits terminally ill adults to obtain medication to end their lives. The plaintiffs contend that the statute compels Catholic healthcare providers to engage in assisted suicide-related activities, including counseling, referrals, and accommodating the practice within their facilities, violating their religious convictions.

Mark Rienzi, President of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty and lead counsel for the plaintiffs, criticized the law for "forcing sick and dying people to consider suicide at their lowest moment," and criticized the law's coercion of religious caregivers "on pain of crushing fines and professional ruin."

Mother Marie Edward, Superior General of the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne, emphasized their mission to "offer comfort, prayer, and loving medical care," not facilitate death, expressing hope the court upholds their religious freedom.

Bishop John O. Barres of the Diocese of Rockville Centre condemned the law as a "grave moral failure" endangering vulnerable populations including the elderly and disabled.

The lawsuit names New York Attorney General Letitia James as defendant, marking a notable intersection of religious liberty claims and state health law reform. The case spotlights ongoing legal debates over the balance between accommodating religious beliefs and implementing end-of-life healthcare policies.