Gov. JB Pritzker on Friday signed a sweeping end-of-life bill that puts Illinois on the national map as the newest state to allow medically assisted dying for terminally ill adults.

Branded “Deb’s Law,” the measure lets patients who have six months or less to live request a prescription that allows them to end their lives on their own terms. The plan squeaked through the state Senate in October after clearing the House in May, setting off a bruising fight that ran straight to the governor’s desk.

Opponents blasted the proposal as legalized “state-sanctioned suicide.” Supporters insisted it gives dying adults a measure of dignity when modern medicine can no longer save them. Twelve states already have similar laws, and another eight are weighing their own versions.

Pritzker leaned on emotional appeals as he approved the bill. “I have been deeply impacted by the stories of Illinoisans or their loved ones that have suffered from a devastating terminal illness, and I have been moved by their dedication to standing up for freedom and choice at the end of life in the midst of personal heartbreak,” he said in a statement.

His signature makes Illinois the first Midwestern state to greenlight medically assisted death. The law demands strict guardrails. Two doctors must confirm that a patient is facing a terminal diagnosis and is expected to die within six months. Patients must make both oral and written requests and must take the medication themselves. They must also be informed of all end-of-life options, including hospice, palliative care, pain management, and comfort care.

The law is named after Deb Robertson, a social worker who battled an aggressive neuroendocrine carcinoma and became a leading voice for the movement in 2022. Her push helped drive a debate that has split families, faith groups, and lawmakers across Illinois.

Advocates say her story is precisely why the measure passed. Critics warn the state is headed down a dangerous path. Illinois will find out soon enough which side is right.

Download the FREE Trending Politics App to get the latest news FIRST >>

, 2025-12-12 19:41:00, , Trending Politics Conservative Breaking News and Commentary, %%https://trendingpoliticsnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/cropped-tp-fav-2-32×32.png, https://trendingpoliticsnews.com/feed/, jake