<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/illinois/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Illinois</a> Catholic hospitals and religious healthcare workers cannot be penalized for not informing terminally ill patients about assisted suicide options, according to a recent court ruling.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><a href="https://ilga.gov/Legislation/ILCS/Articles?ActID=4646&ChapterID=35&Chapter=PUBLIC%20HEALTH&MajorTopic=HEALTH%20AND%20SAFETY&Print=True" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Medical Aid in Dying</a> bill, signed into law on December 12, 2025, by Governor <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/jb-pritzker-2/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">JB Pritzker</a>, permits terminally ill patients who meet specific criteria to receive medication to end their lives. The law took effect on September 12.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In an <a href="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63d954d4e4ad424df7819d46/6ac55cb69d5037039342ffc2_261005-Keen%20Kirchoff%20v%20Treto-Stip%20Amd%20TRO-dkt%2029.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">October 5 temporary restraining order</a>, U.S. District Judge Franklin U. Valderrama prohibited the Department of Financial Professional Regulation and the Department of Public Health from enforcing the bill against the plaintiffs.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The order halts enforcement until an appeals court has made a decision on two ongoing lawsuits: <em>National Institute of Family and Life Advocates v. Treto</em> and <em>Schroeder v. Treto</em>.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The law, known as “Deb’s Law,” is named after Deb Robertson, a resident with a rare terminal illness who advocated for terminally ill patients to have the option to die with “dignity.” The law criminalizes coercing anyone into requesting the medication. Adult patients seeking “end-of-life medication” must:</p>
<ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Have a terminal illness, expected to result in death within six months, certified by two physicians.</li> <li>Be informed by their physician about all healthcare options.</li> <li>Possess the mental capacity to make medical decisions.</li> <li>Submit written and oral requests for the medical aid-in-dying medication, among other requirements.</li> </ul>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“The request can only be made by the patient, not by the patient’s surrogate decision-maker, health care proxy, health care agent, attorney-in-fact for healthcare, guardian, nor via advance care directive,” <a href="https://gov-pritzker-newsroom.prezly.com/governor-pritzker-signs-bill-expanding-end-of-life-options-for-terminally-ill-patients" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">a release states</a>.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Although the bill specifies that healthcare entities and professionals are not required to participate in providing life-ending medication, they are mandated to inform patients about all options, including medically assisted suicide.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“No health care entity shall prohibit a health care professional from … providing information regarding health care services available pursuant to this Act, information about relevant community resources, and how to access those resources for obtaining care of the patient’s choice,” the bill states.</p>