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.
“We applaud Governor Pritzker for signing this compassionate legislation, honoring the 71% of voters who support the option of medical aid in dying for their fellow Illinoisans facing their last months, weeks, or days with a terminal illness,” said Kevin Díaz, President/CEO for Compassion & Choices and Compassion & Choices Action Network. “Thanks to Governor Pritzker’s thoughtful leadership in signing Deb’s Law today, Illinois will become the first state in the Midwest to authorize medical aid in dying, joining the growing number of U.S. jurisdictions that have committed to law their dedication to patient-driven healthcare at all stages of life.”
“This incredible moment is the hard-fought culmination of countless acts of advocacy,” said Callie Riley, Regional Advocacy Director for Compassion & Choices Action Network. “Supporters rallied, wrote letters, called lawmakers, testified at hearings, participated in media interviews, spoke to their fellow Illinoisans in every corner of the state, and raised their voices at every opportunity, even sheltering in the statehouse basement when a tornado warning was issued during a Lobby Day earlier this year.”
“We also recognize with deep appreciation our partners in the Illinois End-of-Life Options Coalition: ACLU of Illinois and Final Options Illinois. The collective impact of supporters, volunteers, legislative champions, and our coalition partners has made all the difference for terminally ill Illinoisans and their loved ones today.”
Illinois is the 13th U.S. jurisdiction to authorize medical aid in dying, and the first state in the Midwest to do so. Delaware most recently authorized the option for terminally ill adults in May, which takes effect by January 1, 2026, and the New York State Legislature passed their Medical Aid in Dying Act (A136/S138) in June, which currently awaits a decision by Gov. Kathy Hochul by the end of the year. To be eligible for the option of medical aid in dying under the Illinois law, as in all other authorized U.S. jurisdictions, an individual must be a terminally ill adult with six months or less to live who is capable of making their own informed healthcare decisions. The law also requires residency in Illinois. Deb’s Law will take effect by September 2026.
The law is named in honor of advocate Deb Robertson, a former social worker living with an aggressive case of neuroendocrine carcinoma in Lombard, Ill. Robertson began advocating in support of medical aid in dying in 2022 and quickly became a fixture in the movement, participating heavily in media interviews and legislative hearings. Robertson is also an LGBTQ+ Leadership Council member for Compassion & Choices, and was named their Allyne Hammer Excellence in Advocacy Award recipient in 2024.
From left to right: Deb Robertson, Suzy and Andrew Flack, Nilsa Centeno
Robertson is not the only advocate who has made an incredible impact to the law’s passage. Those familiar with the end-of-life options movement in recent years will also be familiar with two mothers who advocated in memory of their sons: Nilsa Centeno in memory of Miguel Carrasquillo, a chef at Petterino’s in Chicago, and former Naperville resident Suzy Flack in memory of Andrew Flack, a special education teacher.
Both sons died in their thirties with cancer but had contrasting end-of-life experiences, with Carrasquillo experiencing a painful death without the option of medical aid in dying that he wanted, and Flack planning a gentle death using medical aid in dying in California, where it is authorized. Both stories illustrate the importance of having access to a death aligned with your own values, beliefs, and priorities.
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