Centura: Clarity Needed On Colorado’s Assisted Suicide Law

DENVER (AP) — A Christian-affiliated health system in a court fight over Colorado's assisted suicide law says the state can't stop religious organizations from disciplining employees who encourage the option in violation of its beliefs.

In a federal court filing Wednesday, Colorado-based Centura Health argues in part that the U.S. Constitution's religious freedom protections trumps the state law's provision that doctors can't be retaliated against for choosing to help or not help terminally ill patients hasten their deaths. Centura CEO Peter Banko said Thursday that clarity is needed not just for its hospitals but others as well.

Lawyers for a terminally ill man and his Centura doctor first went to state court to find out if she could help him because Centura's policy allegedly violated state law. They want the case moved back to state court.