Illinois Legalizes Medical Aid in Dying — A New Era for End-of-Life Choice
You’ve likely heard loved ones talk about dignity and choice at life’s end, when pain and suffering are no longer bearable. For many, that’s more than theory; it’s the reality that family caregivers and terminally ill adults dread.
On Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed Senate Bill 1950 into law, legalizing medical aid in dying for eligible adults facing a terminal illness, a decision advocates say brings autonomy to end-of-life care, and critics argue poses ethical risks.
I have been deeply impacted by the stories of Illinoisans or their loved ones that have suffered from a devastating terminal illness, and I have been moved by their dedication to standing up for freedom and choice at the end of life in the midst of personal heartbreak." — Governor J.B. Pritzker (D-IL).
What the New Illinois Law Does
Governor Pritzker’s office says the law (effective Sept. 12, 2026) builds stringent safeguards and gives healthcare systems and providers time to prepare.
Under Deb’s Law, adults 18 or older with a terminal illness and a prognosis of six months or less may request and receive a prescription for medication to end their life peacefully — but only after clear, repeated steps are met.
Key eligibility steps include:
• Two in-person physician confirmations (including mental capacity)
• Written and oral patient requests witnessed by others attesting to voluntariness
• Self-administration ability
• Detailed informed consent about all end-of-life options (comfort care, palliative care, hospice)
Physicians must report back to the Illinois Department of Public Health, and death certificates will list the underlying disease, not the medication, as the cause of death. Healthcare providers are not required to participate.
Emotional Issue
The issue of assisted suicide brings emotional, legal, and moral questions for many people. Gov. Pritzker says it is about compassion, a way to avoid ongoing pain and suffering at the end of someone's life.
Supporters agree.
I want to thank Governor Pritzker for signing this measure into law – giving the full range of end-of-life options for Illinois residents. Today, I know the end for me could be near. But I’m pleased to have been able to play some role in ensuring that terminally ill Illinoisans have access to medical aid in dying.” — Deb Robertson, a retired Lombard social worker who worked to pass the Deb’s Law.
The ACLU of Illinois echoed this sentiment. In a statement, they noted the state now joins other U.S. jurisdictions recognizing medical aid in dying as part of full-spectrum end-of-life care.
We are grateful to Governor Pritzker for signing Deb’s Law and adding Illinois to the list of 11 states and the District of Columbia that offer people the ability to access all options at the end of life. While some have described this law as controversial, the reality is that the new law reflects our state’s ethos of compassion." — ACLU, Illinois statement.
But not all agree. Groups like the Thomas More Society called the law a “profound moral and legal red line,” warning of risks to vulnerable people.
This is a dark and sorrowful day for Illinois. When the state signals that some lives are no longer worth living, the most vulnerable pay the price, Instead of offering true compassion, support, and care, this law offers a fatal prescription. That is not mercy. It is abandonment.” — Thomas Olp, Executive Vice President at Thomas More Society.
Olp says the new law crosses what he describes as a serious moral and legal boundary, arguing that physician-assisted suicide puts vulnerable people at risk, undermines respect for human life, and threatens the conscience rights of medical professionals and faith-based providers.
Disability advocates also raised concerns about how the law might affect people with disabilities.
Disabled people have faced a long history of the devaluation of our lives by medical professionals, and the consequent disparities in accessing healthcare. The passage of this legislation sets a dangerous precedent for Illinoisians with disabilities, particularly in the same moment we are experiencing cuts to Medicaid and access to healthcare.” — Karen Tamley, President & CEO of Access Living.
Cardinal Cupich, the archbishop of Chicago, criticized the assisted-suicide bill earlier in the legislative process, urging lawmakers to prioritize compassionate care rather than legalizing physician-assisted death. He warned that normalizing suicide could have broader societal impacts, particularly at a time when the country is expanding mental health resources such as the 9-8-8 crisis line. Cupich has said there are ethical ways to honor human dignity and provide care without enabling assisted suicide.
I speak to this topic not only as a religious leader but also as one who has seen a parent die from a debilitating illness. My father was kept comfortable and was cherished until his natural death. Catholic teaching supports such palliative care so long as the goal is not to end life. There is a way to both honor the dignity of human life and provide compassionate care to those experiencing life-ending illness.“ — Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, archbishop of Chicago.
How Illinois Fits into the U.S. Trend
Illinois becomes the first Midwest state to pass medical aid in dying — and roughly the 12th U.S. jurisdiction with such a law.
The Right to Die Federation reports that Illinois will join other states that already have medical aid-in-dying laws. These include:
Oregon, Washington, Vermont, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, New Jersey, New Mexico, and the District of Columbia.
A recent federal ruling clarified that some states, like New Jersey, can restrict access to in-state residents only, shaping how people travel across state lines for care.
Lawmakers in states like New York also recently passed similar bills, with governor approval pending, signaling continued momentum nationwide.
Congress Divided
At the federal level, there is no national law permitting medical aid in dying, and Congress remains deeply divided on the issue. Federal statutes neither authorize nor explicitly prohibit physician-assisted death, leaving regulation almost entirely to the states.
Over the years, top federal lawmakers in both parties have framed the debate as a matter of states’ rights, medical ethics, and patient autonomy, while others emphasize the need to protect vulnerable populations and uphold longstanding federal policies that prioritize suicide prevention and disability rights.
The U.S. Supreme Court has previously ruled that states may choose to allow or ban the practice, reinforcing the current patchwork approach. As a result, federal officials largely defer to state legislatures, even as advocacy groups on both sides continue to press Congress to either codify protections against assisted dying or establish national safeguards should more states move in Illinois’ direction.
Comparison With Canada, U.K., and Australia
Medical aid in dying is not unique to the United States:
Canada implemented Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) in 2016 after its Supreme Court ruling, allowing eligible individuals to seek assisted death under regulated conditions.
Australia has legalized voluntary assisted dying in multiple states, with jurisdictions like Victoria, Western Australia, Tasmania, South Australia, Queensland, and New South Wales adopting laws.
United Kingdom: Assisted dying remains largely illegal in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, punishable by prison. However, efforts to pass a Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill are advancing in Parliament, and parts of the U.K. debate continue this year.
Globally, countries vary greatly in eligibility and safeguards, from strict residency and mental capacity requirements to broader eligibility criteria, highlighting divergent legal and ethical frameworks.
What This Means for Long-Term Care Planning
For people planning care or supporting loved ones with advanced illness:
• Prepare advance care plans that reflect values and wishes.
• Talk with doctors early about all end-of-life care options.
• Understand state law timelines and eligibility —
End-of-life decisions are deeply personal. What choice means to you, your family, and your caregivers merits honest conversations long before a terminal diagnosis.
Experts say that most long-term care situations are not terminal in nature, and many people who require help with daily living activities still enjoy a good quality of life.
Experts say to review and, if necessary, update your advance care directive.