Chayim Aruchim, Inc., a project of Agudath Israel of America, is dedicated to protecting life and guiding families through complex medical decisions in accordance with Halacha, has joined a national amicus curiae (“friend of the court”) brief challenging Delaware’s End of Life Options Act.

The brief was filed in federal appellate court alongside a broad coalition of medical, religious, ethical, and legal organizations representing diverse faith traditions and professional backgrounds. Together, the amici argue that laws permitting physician-assisted suicide endanger vulnerable individuals particularly the elderly, disabled, and seriously ill, and undermine the foundational principle that human life must be protected.

The brief contends that Delaware’s law removes long-standing legal safeguards against assisted suicide and transforms the role of government from protector of life into an enabler of self-inflicted death. Drawing on centuries of Anglo-American legal tradition, the filing explains that assisted suicide has historically been rejected by the law and that the right to life is deeply rooted in both English common law and the United States Constitution.

Citing Supreme Court precedent, including Washington v. Glucksberg, the amici maintain that there is no constitutional right to assisted suicide and that such laws violate the Fourteenth Amendment’s due process protections. The brief emphasizes that the duty of the state is to preserve life, not to facilitate its intentional ending.

“Chayim Aruchim joined this brief because our mission is rooted in the Torah that every moment of life has value,” said Rabbi Shmuel Lefkowitz, President of Chayim Aruchim. “At times of serious illness and vulnerability, individuals deserve protection, compassionate care, and support, not laws that risk pressuring them toward ending their lives.”

Chayim Aruchim has long advocated for ethical, compassionate healthcare that advocates for the sanctity of life while helping families navigate difficult medical decisions. Its participation in this brief reflects its ongoing commitment to safeguarding patients, upholding moral responsibility in medicine, and ensuring that the most vulnerable members of society are not placed at risk.

[Press Release]