Early this morning, the Illinois Senate approved and sent to the Governor’s desk Senate Bill 1950, also known as Deb’s Law, a measure that allows mentally capable, terminally ill adults with a prognosis of six months or less to live the option of obtaining a prescription medication that they can decide to take so that they can die peacefully and end their suffering. If Governor JB Pritzker approves the measure, Illinois will join 11 other states and the District of Columbia as jurisdictions that permit medical aid in dying – the first state in the Midwest to approve the practice.
In response to the vote in the Senate, Compassion & Choices Action Network and the ACLU of Illinois, who led the effort for passage of this measure, issued the following statement. It can be attributed to Callie Riley, Regional Advocacy Director for the Compassion & Choices Action Network and Khadine Bennett, Advocacy and Intergovernmental Affairs Director at the ACLU of Illinois:
“We are grateful this morning to the thousands of people across Illinois who have participated in the effort to move Deb’s Law to Governor Pritzker’s desk. Each of these people has been moved by a common commitment to ensuring that everyone in Illinois has the ability to access all options at the end of life. We also are grateful to all the legislators – especially our sponsors, State Senator Linda Holmes and State Representative Robyn Gabel – who supported the legislation after conversations with constituents and advocates leading up to the vote. We encourage the Governor to sign the measure into law at his earliest opportunity.
“Our hearts are with the families and individuals who have courageously shared their stories in the effort to advance this legislation. Their honesty and openness will make life better for Illinoisans once the law is implemented. Finally, we are thankful today for Deb Robertson, who, while facing her own cancer journey, has given freely of her time – and her name – to move this proposal forward. We are heartened that this measure will carry her name moving forward so that future residents of the Land of Lincoln may understand her determination and concern for others. Thank you, Deb.”
The Compassion & Choices Action Network works to build political support to advance its mission to improve care, expand options, and empower everyone to chart their end-of-life journey.
The Compassion & Choices family comprises two organizations: Compassion & Choices, a 501(c)(3), which educates, empowers, and advocates to improve care and expand options at life’s end; and our advocacy and political arm, the Compassion & Choices Action Network, a 501(c)(4).
The Illinois End-of-Life Options Coalition is a statewide partnership dedicated to raising both awareness and support across Illinois for medical aid in dying for terminally ill adults. The coalition’s goal is to authorize medical aid in dying and ensure that terminally ill people who want it can access it. The coalition’s partners include ACLU Illinois, Compassion & Choices Action Network Illinois, and Final Options Illinois. Learn more about their work at illinoisoptions.org
Mail contributions directly to:
Compassion & Choices Gift Processing Center
PO Box 485
Etna, NH 03750
Compassion & Choices is a 501 C3 organization. Federal tax number: 84-1328829
