The Illinois General Assembly is considering a bill that will legalize physician-assisted suicide. I am a 68-year-old Disabled woman and proud member of “Stop Assisted Suicide Illinois Coalition”, which vehemently opposes this bill. This organization includes representatives from diverse communities including disability rights, patients’ rights, health care, hospice care, human rights, senior rights, veterans, and various faith- based advocacy organizations. All parties are committed to keeping Illinois a physician-assisted suicide free state.
Sunday, October 27, 2024
Don't Support Assisted Suicide
Saturday, March 30, 2024
Illinois Doctor Opposes Assisted Suicide & Euthanasia Legalization
I am writing as a medical doctor with board certifications in internal medicine, hospice and palliative medicine, and addiction medicine. I work as a hospital physician, a hospice consultant, and provide primary care to an underserved population suffering from mental illness and addiction. Due to the Illinois Senate’s recent efforts to legalize “medical aid in dying” (aka, physician assisted suicide or euthanasia), I feel compelled to voice the opinion of many in the medical community regarding our opposition to empowering medical professionals to prescribe death.
The bill [SB 3499] is based on several flawed assumptions. Firstly, it overestimates the accuracy of a physician’s ability to predict a patient’s death within six months. Over the years, I have witnessed numerous patients who, despite meeting the six-month prognosis criteria for hospice care, have survived well beyond this period. Published studies confirm the high variability of physician prognostication.
Saturday, March 9, 2024
Access Living’s Amber Smock Quoted Extensively In Chicago Tribune
By Diane Coleman [pictured here]
Three days ago, Amber Smock, Vice President of Advocacy at Access Living, was quoted extensively in a Chicago Tribune article about Illinois’ assisted suicide bill. Today, the editorial board of the Tribune took a position opposed to the bill.
The March 5th article, “Should Illinois become a ‘right-to-die’ state? Lawmakers consider end-of-life option for terminally ill adults,” covered both sides. Here is the segment giving Access Living’s perspective as a disability rights organization:
Yet some disability rights advocates warn that the measure could put vulnerable populations at risk, including seniors, disabled folks and people with mental health issues.
Saturday, January 20, 2024
Alzheimer's Association Statement About Compassion & Choices, fna The Hemlock Society
Chicago. In an effort to provide information and resources about Alzheimer’s disease, the Alzheimer’s Association entered into an agreement to provide education and awareness information to Compassion & Choices, but failed to do appropriate due diligence. Their values are inconsistent with those of the Association. We deeply regret our mistake, have begun the termination of the relationship, and apologize to all of the families we support who were hurt or disappointed. Additionally, we are reviewing our process for all agreements including those that are focused on the sharing of educational information.
Thursday, February 13, 2020
Disability Groups Fight Back
Alderman Judy Fiske |
of the City Council of the City of Evanston, Illinois. The meeting was intended to provide public comment on a proposed resolution to support state legislation on assisted suicide.
Just after the start of the meeting, a spokesperson for the group proposing the resolution, announced that they were pulling
it in favor of more public discussion.
Evaston's Human Services Committee voted on February 3, 2020 to send the resolution to the full City Council.
Tuesday, February 11, 2020
Evanston City Council Strikes Euthanasia Resolution
Evanston City Council Dumps Assisted Suicide Resolution
Tuesday, February 11, 2020
Just as the council was set to take up the resolution, Evanston resident Fay Clayton, wearing a yellow Compassion and Choices T-shirt, asked for the resolution to be withdrawn. Evanston Mayor Stephen Hagerty agreed, but allowed attendees to make short comments about the proposal. When the comments ended, council members struck the resolution from its agenda, saying more public discussion was needed.