Springfield | The Illinois Senate failed to call a bill for a vote before the end of the spring session which would have legalized physician-assisted suicide (PAS) in the state. The legislation was formerly known as the “End-of-Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act,” but was added as an amendment to the Sanitary Food Preparation Act (SB1950) late in the session.
A coalition of pro-life and religious groups, including Illinois Right to Life and the Illinois Baptist State Association, worked together to circulate information of the pending vote.
The Catholic Archbishop of Chicago, Cardinal Blasé Cupich, condemned the amendment. “There is a way to both honor the dignity of human life and provide compassionate care to those experiencing life-ending illness,” Cupich said. “Surely the Illinois legislature should explore those options before making suicide one of the avenues available to the ill and distressed.”
The contentious legislation was approved in the House on May 29 with just three votes to spare (63-42, 2 “present”). It could still be called for a vote during the fall veto session which begins November 15 and runs for six days. The spring session ended May 31.
While running for governor in 2018, Governor JB Pritzker supported allowing terminally ill patients and their doctors to decide on dying. Currently, a spokesperson said he would only comment on the legislation if he was given a bill to sign.
Eleven states and the District of Columbia allow medically assisted suicide.