In Petro v. Platkin, (NJ App., June 10, 2022), a New Jersey state appellate court dismissed constitutional challenges to New Jersey's Medical Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act. It held the plaintiffs-- a terminally ill resident, a physician and a pharmacist-- lack standing because their participation in the procedures permitted by the Act are completely voluntary. The court also rejected claims that the statute violates the "single object" requirement of the state constitution or state constitutional provisions on the right to enjoy and defend life. It also rejected 1st Amendment free exercise claims, finding that the statute is a neutral law of general applicability.
