Bill > SB1950

This bill establishes the End-of-Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act (also known as Deb's Law), which creates a legal framework for medical aid in dying in Illinois for terminally ill patients. The legislation allows qualified adult Illinois residents with a terminal disease (defined as a condition expected to result in death within 6 months) to request medication that will allow them to end their life peacefully. To qualify, patients must be mentally capable, make multiple oral and written requests, and undergo evaluations by attending and consulting physicians, and potentially a mental health professional. The bill includes extensive protections for healthcare professionals, ensuring they cannot be penalized for participating or choosing not to participate in aid-in-dying care. It requires detailed documentation, informed consent, and provides safeguards against coercion, mandating that patients fully understand their diagnosis, prognosis, and alternative treatment options. The law also ensures that death certificates will list the underlying terminal disease as the cause of death, not suicide, and protects patients' insurance and other legal rights. Healthcare entities must provide timely information and transfers if they choose to prohibit aid-in-dying care, and the Department of Public Health will collect anonymized statistical data about the law's implementation. The bill emphasizes patient autonomy, medical ethics, and the right of terminally ill individuals to make end-of-life decisions aligned with their personal values.

Government Affairs, Health and Social Services

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=1950&GAID=18&DocTypeID=SB&SessionID=114&GA=104