SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) — The newly introduced “End of Life Options For Terminally Ill Patients Act” could make Illinois the 11th state to allow medical aid in dying.
“It’s just the comfort in knowing that if the pain gets too bad, you do have the option,” said State Senator Linda Holmes.
Holmes introduced the act in Springfield. The legislation gives a mentally sound adult with six months or less to live the option to get medication to die peacefully.
“give your loved ones those final memories of you, not of you laying sick and and emaciated and deathly ill in a hospital bed, but perhaps to at least be there, to smile, to laugh, to say those final I love you’s,” said Holmes.
People looking for the life-ending prescription go to one of the other 10 states that offer it. This included a relative of Sherman’s, with terminal cancer.
“It’s an aggressive one that not going to be a very pretty death,” said Advocacy Director for Compassion & Choices Amy Sherman. “For me, this is very personal because of that. We talk a lot about medical aid in dying but I hope there are options for her when the time comes,”