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(Big Sky Connection) Advocates for end-of-life care options in Montana have asked the state Supreme Court to uphold an injunction of a bill banning gender-affirming care for minors, to keep it from going into effect.

Critics said the measure violates civil liberties and goes further. The group Compassion & Choices has asked the court to uphold the injunction. It claims Senate Bill 99 takes personal freedoms away from Montana citizens, individual rights the state is known for.

Callie Riley, northwest regional advocacy director for Compassion & Choices, warned the bill could have unintended consequences and called it part of an effort to erode patients' ability to make decisions.

"Our concern in particular is that if the law is upheld, then that could also impact the ability of Montanans to make private health care decisions at the end of life, not just the right to pursue transition-related care," Riley explained.

Some Montana legislators have said they support the measure based on personal, moral or religious disapproval of gender transition. The injunction decision awaits action in the state's highest court.

Texas and Tennessee have passed similar measures.

Jess Pezley, senior staff attorney for Compassion & Choices, sees the health care issues addressed in the bill as interconnected.

"Motivated by the same kind of paternalism that, 'Somebody else can make this medical decision for you better than you can make it for yourself.' And that's not appropriate, whether it's for minors making the very personal decision whether to seek gender-affirming care, or for individuals at the end of life," Pezley asserted.

The lower court judge who issued the injunction has said the measure is not likely to withstand any level of constitutional scrutiny.