Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a sweeping new law on Friday that allows doctors to prescribe death to their own patients, officially making Illinois the 12th state to legalize assisted suicide. The law takes effect in September 2026 and applies to terminally ill adults over 18 who are deemed to have six months or less to live. What could possibly go wrong?
Under the measure, eligible patients may receive a suicide drug after multiple oral and written requests, evaluations by two physicians, and attestations that they are “of sound mind.” Guardians, surrogates, or advance directives cannot request the drugs on a patient’s behalf—at least for now. Americans have seen how “safeguards” tend to age in blue states.
Republicans warned the legislation ushers in a “culture of death,” and the bill barely cleared both chambers despite Democrats holding supermajorities. Opponents argue the law puts vulnerable people—especially the elderly, disabled, and chronically ill—at risk of subtle pressure to end their lives rather than receive care.
Democratic state Sen. Linda Holmes, the bill’s sponsor, said the measure was inspired by watching her parents suffer through cancer. She argued that every adult of sound mind should have this option if suffering becomes unbearable. Critics pointed out that her statement highlights a troubling reality: assisted suicide often centers the emotional pain of family members and bystanders, not just the patient.
Republican House Minority Leader Tony McCombie captured that concern bluntly, noting that when her mother passed at home, she might have chosen assisted suicide to ease others’ pain—not her own.
Disability advocates echoed those fears. Access Living President Karen Tamley warned that legalizing physician-assisted suicide places people at risk of dangerous pressure to die rather than receive proper care and support.
Pritzker, for his part, framed the law as an expansion of “freedom and choice” at the end of life, saying he was moved by stories of suffering and personal heartbreak. Critics argue that soothing family emotions is a far cry from protecting patients—and that it’s an especially hollow argument in a state that also funds suicide prevention programs.
Religious opposition was strong. The Illinois Catholic Conference urged Pritzker to veto the bill and instead expand palliative care and hospice services, calling them compassionate and morally acceptable alternatives. Cardinal Blase Cupich joined that call, asking the governor to address why some people feel death is their only option. The bill nonetheless passed the state Senate on Halloween and was signed on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe—timing that raised more than a few eyebrows.
The American Civil Liberties Union supported the bill, and health care providers are not required to participate in administering the drugs. Critics warn that, as with abortion policy, minimal restrictions are likely to be challenged and weakened over time.
Pritzker signed the law just weeks after meeting Pope Leo XIV of Illinois, acknowledging they may disagree on some issues. The governor is Jewish.
Opponents point to Canada’s “medical assistance in death” system as a cautionary tale, where doctors have allegedly pushed euthanasia on unwilling patients, including those with treatable conditions. One Canadian woman, Jolene Van Alstine, was reportedly offered suicide instead of surgery—until private help stepped in.
Illinois has now chosen this path. Supporters call it compassion; critics call it surrender. The good news is that Americans are paying attention—and the national conversation about protecting life, dignity, and real care is far from over.
