Illinois Democrat Governor JB Pritzker signed a sweeping “assisted suicide” bill on Friday, drawing sharp condemnation from pro-life advocates.
Critics warn that the state is now poised to become a regional hub for what they call “suicide tourism.”
The law permits physicians to prescribe lethal drugs to patients diagnosed with terminal illnesses and given less than six months to live.
The Democrat-controlled state Senate passed the bill in a 30–27 vote just after midnight on Halloween, and it has sat on Pritzker’s desk for more than a month.
“I have been deeply impacted by the stories of Illinoisans or their loved ones that have suffered from a devastating terminal illness, and I have been moved by their dedication to standing up for freedom and choice at the end of life in the midst of personal heartbreak,” Pritzker said after signing the measure.
Conservative and religious liberty advocates, however, say the law goes far beyond what supporters claim.
They warn it will force doctors to participate in, promote, or refer patients for lethal prescriptions, even when doing so violates deeply held moral or religious beliefs.
Christian hospitals would also be barred from disciplining or removing employees who take part in assisted suicides.
The Thomas More Society mourned the governor’s decision.
“This is a dark and sorrowful day for Illinois,” said Thomas Olp, the pro-life nonprofit group’s executive vice president.
“When the state signals that some lives are no longer worth living, the most vulnerable pay the price.”
“Instead of offering true compassion, support, and care, this law offers a fatal prescription.
“That is not mercy. It is abandonment.”
The organization warned that the elderly, disabled, and medically fragile will face heightened danger under the new regime.
“By legalizing physician-assisted suicide, the Land of Lincoln has crossed a profound moral and legal red line.
“As signed into law, this fatal misstep places vulnerable lives at risk, tramples the inherent dignity of human life, and erodes the foundational conscience rights of medical professionals and religious medical practices.”
Illinois is now the 12th state in the country to legalize assisted suicide, and the first in the Midwest.
It raises immediate fears that patients from surrounding states will travel to Illinois to obtain lethal prescriptions.
Pressure Builds in Other States in Push to Expand End-of-Life Laws
Illinois’ move comes as other Democrat-led states are advancing similar legislation, part of a growing national trend previously reported on by Slay News.
In New Jersey, lawmakers have been pushing to loosen restrictions and dramatically expand eligibility under the state’s assisted-suicide framework, proposals that sparked intense backlash from medical ethicists, disability advocates, and religious organizations.
At the time, critics warned that New Jersey lawmakers were attempting to normalize assisted suicide as a government-endorsed “solution” for patients who are suffering not only from terminal illness, but from financial pressure, social isolation, or untreated mental health conditions.
Opponents argued that such proposals would place the vulnerable at even greater risk while incentivizing the state’s healthcare system to prioritize cheaper lethal drugs over long-term treatment.
Like Illinois, New Jersey lawmakers are hoping that the Garden State will become a hub for “suicide tourism.”
With Illinois now enacting its own law, pro-life groups argue the pressure on other blue states, including New Jersey, will only intensify, accelerating what they describe as a coordinated national campaign to redefine medical care through the lens of “death with dignity.”
READ MORE – Canadian Government Offers to Swiftly Euthanize Woman Who’s Waited Years for Surgery
Our comment section is restricted to members of the Slay News community only.
To join, create a free account HERE.
If you are already a member, log in HERE.