Terminally ill woman, mom whose son died after using law in CA, community members testify about legislation

CHICAGO – Family members and advocates of terminally ill adults who support access to medical aid in dying gathered Friday alongside Assistant Senate Majority Leader Linda Holmes to present her End-of-Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients legislation to the Senate Executive Committee.

Holmes has been collaborating on the legislation since early 2024 with the Illinois End-of-Life Options Coalition, which includes Compassion & Choices Action Network Illinois, Illinois Now, ACLU Illinois, doctors, clergy and family members. They were joined by individuals with firsthand experience as patients or relatives of terminally ill adults to express their support.

“This can be an emotional issue, and many fallacies circle around medical aid in dying; I encourage those with misgivings to read the legislation in full to see its criteria and the safeguards that would protect patients, medical professionals and relatives,” Holmes (D-Aurora), chief sponsor of the bill, said.

Opponents include advocates for people with disabilities, who fear they could be exploited or scammed. In Oregon, the first state to enact medical aid in dying, there have been no substantiated cases of abuse or coercion since it took effect in 1997, according to the ACLU.

Holmes’ legislation would allow mentally capable, terminally ill adults with six months or less to live the option to request a prescription for medication that they could choose to take to end their suffering peacefully. Physicians would not administer the medication; patients would need to be able to take the medication themselves. To protect against coercion, the measure includes eligibility requirements and assessments by the attending physician and a consulting physician, who will determine if the patient has the mental capacity to make an informed decision. If either physician has doubt, they must refer the patient to a licensed mental health professional for further evaluation. The physicians must apprise the patient of all end-of-life options. Further, coercing attempting to force someone to request a prescription or forging a medication request would be a felony under the legislation. No health care professional would be required to participate, and individuals would be able to withdraw their request or decide not to take the medication.

Witnesses at Friday’s subject matter hearing included a Lombard woman dying of a rare and aggressive form of cancer, a mom whose only son died peacefully after accessing California’s medical aid in dying law, doctors, nurses and representatives from Compassion & Choices Action Network Illinois and ACLU Illinois.

Senate Bill 9 awaits further action in the Senate Executive Committee.

READ SENATE BILL 9