Gabel Measure to Give Terminally Ill Adults Compassionate Options to End their Suffering Signed into Law

EVANSTON, Ill. – A compassionate measure spearheaded by state Rep. Robyn Gabel, D-Evanston, that would allow terminally ill adults with decision-making capacity to request and receive self-administered prescription medication to hasten their foreseeable deaths has been signed into law.

“Signing this bill into law will enable patients who still are capable of making serious medical decisions and who are facing enormous pain due to fatal health problems to maintain bodily autonomy during one of the most difficult periods of their lives,” Gabel said. “We are fighting to preserve terminally ill patients’ dignity by allowing them to peacefully end their suffering. This measure represents progress for human rights in our state. I’m grateful to the many advocates and stakeholders who helped bring this victory forward.”

Gabel led the passage of Senate Bill 1950, or Deb’s Law, which grants terminally ill patients with a diagnosis of six months or less left to live the freedom to obtain medication they can self-administer to peacefully end their lives. No physician, health care provider or pharmacist is required to participate in the law.

The law has a range of safety requirements including:

-Have a terminal illness that will result in death within six months (as determined by two physicians);

-Two verbal requests for the medication directly from the patient, with a five-day waiting period between the first and second request;

-A written request from the patient;

-Physicians must inform the requesting individual about all of their end-of-life care options, including comfort care, hospice, palliative care and pain control; and

– Qualified patients must be able to self-administer the medication and must have the mental    capacity to make medical decisions.

Numerous advocates delivered moving accounts of the challenges they faced and how this measure has the potential to improve their lives. Beth Langen, an advocate for the disability rights community, shared this testimony when the bill was debated in the House:     

“This bill doesn’t lessen anyone’s control or rob anyone of choice—over our lives, or at the point when our lives reach an inevitable, unavoidable end that no treatment can improve or reverse. This bill strengthens our control. As someone who has learned to never take my right to self-determination for granted, I hope Illinois joins the many other states who extend this ability to the end of our lives so that all of us can choose a death that is peaceful, without unnecessary suffering, with less fear.”