Major U.S. hospital network refuses to implement new assisted suicide law

Advocate Health Care. Photo: LifeSiteNews

Euthanasia will not be permitted in medical facilities operated by Advocate Health Care in the U.S. state of Illinois. The leadership of the healthcare network, which runs 11 hospitals, announced that it would not participate in the state’s “medical aid in dying” program (MAID), which is set to take effect in September, LifeSiteNews reports.

The organization said in a statement that, after careful consideration, it had decided to reject such practices across all of its facilities. The law allows patients diagnosed as terminally ill and given fewer than six months to live to obtain assistance in ending their lives.

Catholic-affiliated healthcare systems OSF HealthCare, Ascension, and Hospital Sisters Health System have previously declined to participate in the program. The Illinois Coalition Against Assisted Suicide sent letters to all healthcare institutions in the state urging them to follow suit in order to protect patients.

As the UOJ reported, religious hospitals in France may be required to provide euthanasia.

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