Catholic nuns and faith-based healthcare providers in New York have filed a First Amendment lawsuit against the state, arguing that its new assisted suicide law will compel them to act against their religious beliefs. The plaintiffs, who have long provided end-of-life care, say the legislation threatens their ability to run their institutions in line with Catholic teaching, which regards assisted suicide as morally wrong.

The law, referred to as New York's "Medical Aid in Dying" legislation, has drawn strong criticism from Catholic leaders, including New York Archbishop Ronald Hicks, who described it as an "assault on life" and a "slippery slope" in a television interview. The lawsuit forms part of a wider religious freedom challenge, with the plaintiffs seeking to prevent the state from forcing faith-based carers to participate in or facilitate a practice they consider incompatible with their beliefs.