Medical aid in dying was authorized in Illinois on December 12th, 2025, when Gov. Pritzker signed SB 1950, the End-of-Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act. Also known as “Deb’s Law” for Compassion & Choices storyteller Deb Robertson, the law goes into effect in September 2026.
The bill was introduced during the 2025 legislative session by House Majority Leader Robyn Gabel and Assistant Senate Majority Leader Linda Holmes. The legislation is summarized here.
In a 2023 poll, 71% of likely Illinois voters supported this compassionate legislation, and the majority of Illinois physicians also support this option.
Survey of Illinois Physicians’ Attitudes Toward Medical Aid in Dying as an End-of-Life Option
Illinois Legislative Campaign Overview
The Compassion & Choices Action Network Illinois team and the ACLU of Illinois partner in the Illinois End-of-Life Options Coalition. If you would like to get involved, please sign up here.
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Legislation to allow medical aid in dying, an option for mentally capable, terminally ill adults to peacefully end unbearable suffering, is supported by a wide majority of Illinois voters, regardless of political affiliation, disability, race, gender identity, age or religion.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker today signed the End-of-Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act (SB 1950) into law, granting the wishes of passionate advocates past and present who have tirelessly pleaded for the option of medical aid in dying for many years. The legislation, also known as “Deb’s Law,” allows eligible adults with a terminal illness and a six-month or less prognosis the option to request a prescription from their doctor they can self-ingest to die on their own terms
El Senado de Illinois aprobó y envió al despacho del Gobernador el Proyecto de Ley 1950, también conocido como Ley de Deb, una medida que permite a los adultos con una enfermedad terminal, mentalmente capaces y un pronóstico de vida de seis meses o menos, con la opción de obtener una receta médica para un medicamento que pueden decidir tomar para morir en paz y poner fin a su sufrimiento.
Early this morning, the Illinois Senate approved and sent to the Governor’s desk Senate Bill 1950, also known as Deb’s Law
The Illinois Senate Executive Committee today approved a bill that would allow terminally ill adults the option to request a doctor’s prescription for medication they can decide to take to die peacefully by a vote of 8-3 The End of Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act (SB9) now moves to the Senate floor.
El Illinois Senate Executive Committee o Comité Ejecutivo del Senado de Illinois aprobó hoy con una votación de 8-3, una propuesta de ley que permitiría a los adultos con enfermedades terminales solicitar una receta prescrita para obtener un medicamento que elijan auto ingerir, para morir pacíficamente. El End of Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act (SB 9) u Opciones de Fin de Vida para Pacientes con Enfermedades Terminales (SB9), pasa ahora al Pleno del Senado.
Mujer con Cáncer Incurable y Defensores, Optimistas que Legisladores Aprobarán Medida Compasiva
Woman With Incurable Cancer, Supporters Optimistic Lawmakers Will Pass Compassionate Bill
A Chicago mother, Suzy Flack has recorded a Mother’s Day video to urge legislators in Illinois to pass medical aid-in-dying legislation as quickly as possible to honor her only son, Andrew ‘Drew’ Flack, who died from cancer. The video comes as Illinois legislators consider the End-of-Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act (SB 3499) which…
Compassion & Choices is proud to announce that Deb Robertson of Lombard, Illinois is the 2024 Allyne Hammer Excellence in Advocacy Award recipient. The award was created after the death of Compassion & Choices’ supporter Allyne Hammer last year to honor volunteers who work within their communities and exemplify the values of the end-of-life care…
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