Illinois becomes 12th state to provide medically assisted suicide for
the terminally ill
[December 13, 2025]
By JOHN O'CONNOR
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois residents with terminal illnesses may
choose to end their lives on their own terms under a law Gov. JB
Pritzker signed Friday.
Legalized medically assisted suicide takes effect in September 2026 to
give the Illinois Department of Public Health and other medical
participants time to develop “stringent processes and protections” for
implementing the provision, according to the Democratic governor's
office.
It is also known as “Deb's Law,” honoring Deb Robertson, a lifelong
resident of the state living with a rare terminal illness who has pushed
for the measure's approval and testified to the suffering of people and
their families wanting the chance to decide for themselves how and when
their lives should end.
Pritzker said he has been moved by stories of patients suffering from
terminal illness and their devotion to "freedom and choice at the end of
life in the midst of personal heartbreak.”
“This legislation will be thoughtfully implemented so that physicians
can consult patients on making deeply personal decisions with authority,
autonomy, and empathy,” Pritzker said after signing the measure in
Chicago.
Eleven other states and the District of Columbia allow medically
assisted suicide, according to the advocacy group, Death With Dignity.
Delaware was the latest, and its provision takes effect Jan. 1, 2026.
Seven other states are considering allowing it.
In Illinois, patients 18 and older with physician-confirmed mental
capacity to make medical decisions may request end-of-life medication if
they have an illness that could be fatal within six months, as verified
by two doctors; as well as have received information about all
end-of-life care options, such as hospice or palliative care.
Additionally, both oral and written requests for the medication must
come from the patient, not a surrogate or proxy.
Sponsoring Sen. Linda Holmes, a suburban Chicago Democrat, said both her
parents died of cancer.
“I'll never forget the helpless feeling of watching them suffer when
there was nothing I could do to help them," Holmes said. “Every adult
patient of sound mind should have this as one more option in their
end-of-life care in the event their suffering becomes unbearable.”
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Gov. JB Pritzker signs a bill into law on Aug. 14, 2025, in
Springfield. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jerry Nowicki)
The Illinois House approved the measure 63-42 in late May at the end
of the legislative spring session. The Senate didn’t take it up
until October, when it was approved 30-27. In both chambers, there
were prominent Democratic “no” votes.
The Catholic Conference of Illinois, representing the state's six
Catholic dioceses, issued a statement disparaging Pritzker's action,
saying the law puts Illinois “on a dangerous and heartbreaking
path.”
“Rather than investing in real end-of-life support such as
palliative and hospice care, pain management, and family-centered
accompaniment, our state has chosen to normalize killing oneself,”
the Catholic bishops said. “This law ignores the very real failures
in access to quality care that drive vulnerable people to despair.”
The conference also derided the idea that Illinois has legalized
suicide for some while attempting to prevent it in others,
particularly teenagers, among whom suicide is the second-leading
cause of death. That sentiment was echoed by the nonpartisan
advocacy and lobbyist group Patients Rights Action Fund.
“Assisted suicide plunges Illinoisans with disabilities and other
vulnerable people into conversations about death, instead of the
care and support they deserve from their medical teams,” said Matt
Valliere, the group's president and CEO.
Deb Robertson, the retired social worker from suburban Chicago who
gave a name to the law, thanked Pritzker for signing the law
providing “the full range of end-of-life options.”
Robertson added, “The end for me could be near, but I'm pleased to
have been able to play some role in ensuring that terminally ill
Illinois residents have access to medical aid in dying."
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