Legislature passes ‘medical aid in dying’ bill that governor says he will review

Article Summary

State lawmakers passed a bill to legalize “medical aid in dying” for Illinois adults with terminal illnesses.

If signed by the governor, the measure would allow mentally capable patients to self-administer end-of-life medication with the review of two physicians and two witnesses.

The bill passed narrowly after opposition from religious groups, medical associations and diversity rights advocates.

Gov. JB Pritzker said Monday he was reviewing the specifics of the bill, referencing personal experience with terminally ill end-of-life measures.

This summary was written by the reporters and editors who worked on this story.

CHICAGO — Terminally ill adults in Illinois may have the option to take life-ending medication prescribed by a physician under a bill passed by the Ill