House Committee Hearing & Vote on Assisted Suicide Bill

Illinois state lawmakers held a hearing for a bill hat would legalize assisted suicide for terminally ill patients. Representative Robyn Gabel (D-Chicago) has added assisted suicide language into a food preparation safety bill, SB 1950, as an amendment. This amendment allows supposedly terminally ill patients with less than six months to live to receive a prescription for a lethal drug cocktail.

Illinois Family Institute, Illinois Right to Life and the Catholic Bishops of Illinois oppose this agenda, arguing that it not only violates the sanctity of human life, but it poses significant risks of coercion and exploitation our family, friends and neighbors. We advocate for expanding palliative care programs instead of legalizing assisted suicide.

Additional Arguments Against:

Ethical and Moral Concerns: Evangelical Christians, Catholics and some disability rights groups, argue against the practice on moral grounds, emphasizing a “consistent life ethic” and advocating for palliative care as the appropriate response to suffering.

Potential for Abuse: Opponents express concerns that safeguards may not be sufficient to prevent abuse, coercion, or misdiagnosis, especially for vulnerable populations (e.g., those with mental health challenges, limited support, or financial pressures). We believe there will be cases of abuse.

Misdiagnosis and “Terminal” Definition: There are worries about misdiagnosis of terminal illness or prognosis, and that the definition of “terminal” could be broadened, potentially including conditions that are treatable.

Physician’s Role: Many medical professionals argue it fundamentally changes the role of a doctor from healing to facilitating death, violating the “do no harm” principle. This is why the Illinois State Medical Society voted overwhelmingly to oppose this agenda.

Insurance Company Incentives: There are legitimate concerns about insurance companies potentially incentivizing suicide over expensive life-prolonging treatments.

Suicide Contagion: Some opponents worry that legalizing assisted suicide could lead to an increase in suicides generally.

BACKGROUND

During the hearing, Representative Robyn Gabel admitted that she has been working on this legislation for years.

In January 2025, proponents of death filed an assisted suicide bill in both the Senate (SB 9) and the House (HB 1328). They titled the bill the “End of Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act.” The debate over assisted suicide in Illinois continues, with proponents arguing that it can alleviate suffering and opponents warning of potential risks and ethical concerns