TRENTON, N.J. – A legal challenge to New Jersey’s controversial “Medical Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act” hit a snag on Tuesday as a state appellate court reversed a lower court decision to pause the controversial law which went into effect on August 1st.
A Superior Court (state trial level) judge had previously issued injunctive relief earlier this month; that decision had the effect of preventing doctors and pharmacists from assisting patients in ending their lives pending appeal. The plaintiff – an Orthodox Jewish doctor from Bergen County – argued that the law violated his religious freedom under the First Amendment. Today’s ruling puts the law back into full force and effect during the remainder of the appellate process.
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“We conclude the court failed to consider adequately the interests of qualified terminally-ill patients, who the Legislature determined have clearly prescribed rights to end their lives consistent with the Act,” the appellate judges explained in their opinion.
The plaintiff will now pursue his appeal with the N.J. Supreme Court.
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