Disability rights organizations have filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block New York's Medical Aid in Dying law, which allows terminally ill patients to request life-ending medication from physicians.

The lawsuit argues that the law violates federal disability rights protections by allegedly steering vulnerable New Yorkers toward suicide rather than providing adequate support and medical care. The organizations contend that the legislation discriminates against people with disabilities and chronic illnesses.

New York's Medical Aid in Dying Act, which took effect earlier this year, permits doctors to prescribe lethal medication to patients who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness and given six months or less to live. The law includes safeguards requiring multiple requests, waiting periods, and psychological evaluations.

The disability rights groups filing the lawsuit have not been specifically identified in available reports, but they represent organizations that advocate for people with disabilities and chronic health conditions. The lawsuit was filed in federal court, though the specific district was not immediately specified.

New York became the tenth state to legalize medical aid in dying, joining jurisdictions like Oregon, Washington, and California that have similar laws. Supporters of such legislation argue it provides autonomy and dignity for terminally ill patients, while opponents raise concerns about potential coercion and inadequate palliative care options.