The Illinois End-of-Life Options Act

Illinois is the thirteenth jurisdiction in the U.S. to authorize medical aid in dying. Deb's Law - named for Compassion & Choices advocate Deb Robertson - was signed by Governor JB Pritzker on December 12th, 2025. The law goes into effect on September 12th, 2026.

Who is Eligible

To be eligible for medical aid in dying under the Ron Silverio/Heather Block End-of-Life Options Act, a person must be:

1. An adult
2. Terminally ill
3. Given a prognosis of six months or less to live
4. Mentally capable of making their own healthcare decisions.

In addition, a person must meet the following requirements:

• A resident of Illinois
• Acting voluntarily
• Capable of self-administering the aid-in-dying medication via the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The medication may not be administered by anyone other than the patient, nor self-administered by injection or IV infusion.

Steps for Requesting Medical Aid in Dying

In addition to meeting the core eligibility criteria, there is a multi-step process that must be followed in order to qualify for a prescription for aid-in-dying medication.

• Two Illinois physicians must confirm the terminal illness and prognosis of six months or less to live, as well as all other eligibility criteria. Individuals are not eligible for medical aid in dying solely because of advanced age or disability. 

• The attending physician must inform the requesting individual about all of their end-of-life care options, including hospice care, comfort care, palliative care, and pain and symptom management. 

• In all cases, if either the attending or consulting physician has concerns about the individual’s mental capacity or ability to make an informed decision, they must make a referral to a  qualified mental health professional for an additional assessment. 

• The individual must fill out the Request for Medication to End My Life in a Peaceful Manner form and present it to their attending physician. This form has not yet been finalized by the Illinois Department of Public Health. When it is, you can visit CompassionandChoices.org/Illinois to access the form. 

A qualified individual must make two oral requests and one written request for aid-in-dying medication. A qualified patient must make the second oral request for aid-in-dying medication no fewer than 5 days after making the first oral request. There is an exemption to this waiting period for patients who will, in the reasonable medical judgement of their attending physician, die within 5 days of making the first oral request.

Talking to Your Provider

Ask your healthcare providers now whether they will support your end-of-life choices, including medical aid in dying. This will encourage them to listen to your priorities and become prepared to provide you with the care you may want in the future. If your medical providers are unable or unwilling to support your end-of-life choices, you may consider changing over to a healthcare team that puts your wishes first. 

Where Can I Learn More?

Compassion & Choices’ Call Compassion team is available to offer personalized support, resources, and general information at no cost. You can contact Call Compassion at 800.247.7421, Language interpreter services are available.

Find forms, videos, and resources for patients and clinicians will be available over time at: CompassionAndChoices.org/Illinois

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