Brief of Amici Curiae Christian Medical & Dental Associations and Coptic Medical Association of North America in Support of Defendants' Motions to Dismiss

Authors

John A. Meiser, Notre Dame Law School, Religious Liberty ClinicFollow
Francesca M. Genova, Notre Dame Law School, Religious Liberty ClinicFollow
Christopher J. Schweickert, SETO WOOD & SCHWEICKERT LLP

Document Type

Brief

Publication Date

2-1-2022

Abstract

No. 3:21-cv-06654-VC
Lonny Shavelson v. California Department of Health Care Services

From the Argument

Whether and to what extent doctors should be allowed to participate in intentionally ending the lives of their patients is one of the most important questions in public bioethics. The vast majority of states allow no physician participation at all. California is one of nine states that have passed laws allowing physicians to “assist” a patient’s suicide by making lethal drugs available. But each stops there. No state allows what the plaintiffs in this case now demand: that doctors be allowed to actively euthanize patients by administering the lethal dose to them.

Comments

Amici curiae are two associations of Christian healthcare professionals. The Christian Medical & Dental Associations is an organization of 16,000 members that provides resources, networking opportunities, education, and a public voice for Christian healthcare professionals and students in order to preserve a space for Christians in the medical field. CMDA educates, encourages, and equips Christian healthcare professionals to glorify God. The Coptic Medical Association of North America aims to unite Egyptian Christian medical professionals from North America and to provide compassionate healing worldwide by serving the sick, mentoring future generations, and equipping local ministries. Amici seek to ensure that California’s decision to outlaw euthanasia² is upheld in order to guard against the grave harms that euthanasia would threaten to the medical profession and to the many thousands of religious believers who practice in it.

Table of Authorities include:

O. Carter Snead, What It Means to Be Human: The Case for the Body in Public Bioethics (2020).

Recommended Citation

Meiser, John A.; Genova, Francesca M.; and Schweickert, Christopher J., "Brief of Amici Curiae Christian Medical & Dental Associations and Coptic Medical Association of North America in Support of Defendants' Motions to Dismiss" (2022). Court Briefs. 33.
https://scholarship.law.nd.edu/sct_briefs/33