Illinois Becomes 12th US State to Legalize Medically Assisted Death for Terminally Ill Patients

Illinois has given legal sanction to allow its residents with terminal illness to choose to end their lives on their own terms under a new law. Legalized medically assisted suicide will come into effect from September 2026, according to the new law that Governor JB Pritzker signed. Till then, the Illinois Department of Public Health and other medical participants will get time to develop “stringent processes and protections”. It is being called “Deb’s Law”, which is honouring Deb Robertson - a lifelong resident of the state living with a rare terminal illness who has pushed for the measure's approval and testified to the suffering of people and their families wanting the chance to decide for themselves how and when their lives should end. After

signing the measure in Chicago, Pritzker said he was moved by stories of those suffering from terminal illness and their devotion to “freedom and choice at the end of life in the midst of personal heartbreak.” “This legislation will be thoughtfully implemented so that physicians can consult patients on making deeply personal decisions with authority, autonomy, and empathy,” he said.

What does the new law say?

In Illinois, those patients 18 years and older with physician-confirmed mental capacity can request end-of-life care if they have an illness that could be fatal within six months, as verified by two doctors, and have received information about all end-of-life care options, such as hospice or palliative care. Additionally, both oral and written requests for the medication must come from the patient, not a surrogate or proxy. The Illinois House approved the measure 63-42 earlier in the summer this year at the end of the legislative spring session. The Senate did not take it up until October, when it was approved 30-27. In both chambers, there were prominent Democratic “no” votes.

What is medically assisted death?

Medically assisted death or Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) is a patient-centered process where a doctor or nurse practitioner helps a mentally competent, terminally ill adult end their life at their voluntary request, typically involving a prescription for lethal medication a patient self-administers or, in some places, a practitioner administering the medication. Also known as euthanasia, the condition is for those with a grievous and irremediable condition, which offers control over the timing and manner of death, focusing on alleviating suffering, loss of autonomy, and loss of dignity. Eligibility and legal frameworks vary by jurisdiction, such as in Canada and some US states. It can be classified as:

Voluntary euthanasia

Where a person makes a conscious decision to die and asks for help to do so

Non-voluntary euthanasia

Where a person is unable to give their consent - like they are in a coma - and another person makes the decision on their behalf, perhaps because the ill person previously expressed a wish for their life to be ended in such circumstances. While it differs from euthanasia, where a doctor administers the drug, the eligibility for medically assisted death typically requires a prognosis of six months or less to live, and the process involves strict safeguards, including multiple physician confirmations and patient self-administration.