Illinois Legalizes Medical Aid in Dying – 12th State to Do So

Illinois Legalizes Medical Aid in Dying, Becoming First Midwest State to Do So

Illinois residents who have terminal illnesses will now have the option to end their own lives with medical aid in dying.

On Friday, Dec. 12, Gov. JB Pritzker signed Senate Bill 1950 into law, making illinois the 12th state to legalize medical aid in dying (MAID). The move also makes Illinois the first state in the Midwest to provide patients with “autonomy, dignity and peace at the end of their lives,” the governor’s office said in a release.

The law allows patients with terminal illnesses to end their lives with lethal medication – without supervision of their medical team. it’s different from euthanasia as the patients themselves administer prescribed drugs to end their lives, rather than a doctor. Euthanasia is illegal in the United states.

In order to qualify for MAID, patients must be 18 or older and have an illness that will result in death within six months, as verified by two doctors. Additionally, the patients must be informed of all end-of-life care options, such as hospice or palliative care, and make both oral and written requests to receive the lethal medication. The request must also come from the patient, not a guardian, surrogate or proxy.

The MAID law will take effect on September 12, 2026.

In addition to Illinois, MAID laws have been authorized in California, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Montana, Vermont, Hawaii, Maine, New Jersey, New Mexico and Washington D.C.

NEED TO KNOW

* Gov.JB Pritzker signed Senate Bill 1950 into law, making Illinois the 12th state to legalize medical aid in dying (MAID)
* The governor’s office said the bill will provide patients with “autonomy, dignity and peace at the end of their lives”
* The new law will take effect on September 12, 2026