Associated Press - October 7, 2009 2:04 PM ET
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - Two Connecticut physicians and end-of-life advocates have filed a lawsuit seeking to clarify whether doctors can help terminally ill patients with dying.
Dr. Gary Blick, a Norwalk physician who specializes in treating patients with HIV/AIDS, says he and Dr. Ron Levine of Cos Cob want the court to declare that doctors who prescribe medication to a patient who wants to use it to end his or her life peacefully will not face criminal charges.
Connecticut law makes it a crime to assist another person in committing suicide.
While the doctors don't believe that's what they would be doing, the Roman Catholic Church disagrees.
Michael Culhane, executive director of the Connecticut Catholic Conference, says the church believes life should be protected from conception to natural death.
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